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Student Council schools rivals in Pacific Classic

Student Council taught a tough lesson in the Pacific Classic (Benoit Photo) STUDENT COUNCIL (Kingmambo) entered Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) showing a win in the Maxxam Gold Cup H. as his best race to date. The bay five-year-old exited the 1 1/4-mile test a Grade 1 winner, rallying down the stretch and holding the game late run of Awesome Gem (Awesome Again) to post a half-length victory under Richard Migliore, who is marking his first summer of riding "Where the Turf Meets the Surf." "This win means so many things to me on so many levels," Migliore said. "You don't know how hard it has been for me to come out here (to California from New York) and ride and leave my family behind. But they are all here with me today, and this is so sweet. I've been blessed throughout my career, and this is a huge blessing." The victory was also a sweet one for trainer Vladimir Cerin, who just added Student Council to his barn after the horse was privately purchased by Millennium Farms. "(Former trainer) Neil Howard did a great job with this horse," Cerin said. "He's run over synthetic surfaces before. I had Richie, who is very, very intelligent, and the horse is so calm, cool and collected." Migliore settled Student Council in midpack along the inside while A. P. Xcellent (A.P. Indy) set splits of :24 4/5, :49 3/5 and 1:14 4/5, all the while tracked by Hello Sunday (Fr) (Poliglote [GB]). As the field rounded the turn, Student Council angled off the rail and came four wide down the stretch to collar Hello Sunday, who had passed a tiring A. P. Xcellent to get a mile in 1:40 3/5. The new leader couldn't hold off Student Council, though, as he powered to the lead and then held Awesome Gem while drifting out toward the center of the Polytrack, posting a final time of 2:07 1/5. Because this is the first 10-furlong event staged on the new synthetic surface, Student Council is credited with setting the new track mark by default.

Sent off the 23-1 ninth choice in the 12-horse field, Student Council paid $48.80, $31.80 and $20.60 while keying $1 exotics worth $177.60 (exacta), $2,513.90 (trifecta) and $18,027.30 (5-4-13-8 superfecta). Awesome Gem raced near the back throughout, came four wide into the stretch and rushed down the middle of the track, but could never get by the winner, returning $12.40 and $8.20 as the 10-1 fourth choice. It was another four lengths back to Hello Sunday, who held third by 1 1/2 lengths over Arson Squad (Brahms) to give back $9.40 at 13-1.

Big Booster (Accelerator) followed in fifth. Then came 6-5 favorite and defending champion Lava Man (Slew City Slew), who made a briefly menacing move on the turn but faded through the stretch, not seeming comfortable while making his first start on the Polytrack. Finishing out the order under the wire were Porfido (Chi) (Mash One [Chi]), Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great), A. P. Xcellent, Time Squared (Fusaichi Pegasus), Salty Humor (Distorted Humor) and Sun Boat (GB) (Machiavellian). Trainer John Shirreffs was unhappy with the track and scratched Tiago (Pleasant Tap) this morning.

Student Council more than tripled his earnings, now boasting $852,731 to go along with a 21-6-3-3 career mark. Besides his win in the Maxxam Gold Cup, he also owns placings in this year's Razorback Breeders' Cup H. (G3) and Alysheba S. (G3). He was coming off a close runner-up effort to Grade 1 hero Brass Hat (Prized) in an allowance/optional claiming event at Churchill Downs, beaten just a head in a track record-setting race.

Sold recently by breeder William S. Farish, the Kentucky-bred Student Council is out of Grade 2 victress Class Kris (Kris S.), who has also produced 2004 Risen Star S. (G3) winner Gradepoint (A.P. Indy) and a winning juvenile filly named Green Oasis (Green Desert), who is racing in Great Britain. His second dam is multiple Grade 3 queen Classic Value (Copelan), and he comes from the same family as last year's Appleton H. (G3) hero and Grade 1-placed Gulch Approval (Gulch), Grade 2 winner Don't Get Mad (Stephen Got Even), stakes victor and Grade 1-placed Patriot Act (A.P. Indy) and this season's Victoria Park S. scorer Approval Rating (Lemon Drop Kid).

Because the Pacific Classic is part of the new Breeders' Cup Challenge series, Student Council has booked his ticket to the October 27 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Monmouth Park.

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