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Go Between strikes in Virginia Derby Peter Vegso's homebred GO BETWEEN (Point Given) secured a tactically advantageous, ground-saving trip in the early going of Saturday's $1 million Virginia Derby (G2), and the Bill Mott pupil made the most of it to record a decisive 1 3/4-length victory. With Garrett Gomez in the irons, Go Between traveled beautifully in third as the expected pacesetter and 2-1 favorite Kip Deville (Kipling) established an even tempo of :24 1/5, :48, 1:12 and 1:35 1/5. In the stretch, Gomez came off the hedge and turned his mount loose. The chestnut offered an immediate response, sweeping to the front and never looking in a moment's danger while striding out 1 1/4 miles in an excellent 1:59 3/5 on the firm turf. Seaside Retreat (King Cugat), who had been rating in midpack through the first mile, advanced smoothly along the inside in the stretch but was trapped behind the floundering Kip Deville. Once able to switch to the outside for a clear run, the bay finished purposefully for second. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to a three-way blanket finish for third, with Spider Power (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) just saving the show spot by a head over a rallying Manchu Prince (Gone West), who in turn had a head to spare over a mildly closing Proudinsky (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]). Dispatched as the 3-1 third choice, Go Between returned $8.60, $4.20 and $3.40. The nearly 7-1 Seaside Retreat gave back $7.60 and $5.40 while completing the $56.80 exacta. Spider Power yielded $6.40 at odds of 14-1, resulting in a trifecta worth $438. With the 13-1 shot Manchu Prince in fourth, the 2-1-3-5 superfecta ($1) totaled $1,487.50. Kip Deville tired to cross the wire in sixth, trailed by Roman Dynasty (Theatrical [Ire]), Yate's Black Cat (Black Minnaloushe), Sir Classic Chris (Catienus) and Readily (More Than Ready). Morning line favorite Steppenwolfer (Aptitude) and Genre (GB) (Orpen) were scratched. With this $600,000 payday, Go Between's earnings have ballooned to $852,340, and his record now stands at 9-3-3-3. The sophomore had previously captured the Palm Beach S. (G3) and placed in the American Turf S. (G3), Sophomore Turf S. and most recently the Colonial Turf Cup S. A Kentucky-bred, Go Between is out of Irish stakes winner and multiple Group 3-placed Mediation (Ire) (Caerleon). Continuing her career in America, she finished second in the 1996 Jenny Wiley S. (G3) at Keeneland. She has also produced 2004 Cherry Hinton S. (Eng-G2) third Extreme Beauty (Rahy); an unraced juvenile full-brother to Go Between, appropriately named Compromise; and a 2006 colt by Orchard Park. This is the extended family of Sharpo, English and French champion sprinter in 1981-82, and Yellow God, winner of the 1969 Gimcrack S. and runner-up in the 1970 English Two Thousand Guineas.
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