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Bittel Road taps into reserves, lifts Bourbon

Bittel Road (left) launched an improbable rally to remain undefeated (Photo by Z/Keeneland Association) James T. Scatuorchio and John Iracane's BITTEL ROAD (Stormy Atlantic) looked hopelessly beaten at the top of the stretch in Sunday's $200,000 Bourbon S. (G3) at Keeneland, but the Todd Pletcher pupil found another gear inside the final furlong to get up at the wire. Still unbeaten after three starts, the dark bay colt now holds a reservation for the October 25 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. Under new rider Rajiv Maragh, who took over for the convalescing John Velazquez, Bittel Road was unhurried in the opening stages. A scramble for the early lead ensued among Ninth Client (Malibu Moon), Ghost Five (Grand Slam) and Vaquero (Orientate), who were not separated by much while clocking an opening split of :23 2/5. Ninth Client and Vaquero soon managed to have the argument to themselves through fractions of :47 4/5 and 1:13. The two continued their duel into the stretch, while Bittel Road was still a long way back in next to last place, with 10 horses in front of him.

Nearing the eighth-pole, Driving Snow (GB) (Verglas [Ire]) erupted from the pack, rapidly rolled past Ninth Client and Vaquero, and appeared a certain winner in his U.S. debut. By this point, Maragh had galvanized Bittel Road, who produced a sparkling late charge and collared Driving Snow by a head on the line. The even-money favorite reeled off 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:44 1/5 and returned $4, $3 and $2.80.

"I just wanted to settle, but I got shuffled back a bit on the first turn," Maragh said. "Going down the backstretch, I was further back than I would hope to be, but the race was really jumbled up and I just waited for a hole. I found it on the outside. I asked him to run, and he finished strong. That was an exceptional finish."

Driving Snow drew 1 1/4 lengths clear in second, paying $5 and $4.20 as the 5-1 third choice. Ninth Client prevailed over Vaquero by a half-length for third, and the 17-1 shot rewarded his backers with $6 to show. The exacta was worth $27.60, the trifecta totaled $232.80, and with the 47-1 Vaquero in fourth, the 1-10-5-8 superfecta ballooned to $4,501.40.

Just Like Biscuit (Sligo Bay [Ire]), who had been a detached last through six furlongs, closed well for fifth. Har D Boy (Johar), Jack Spratt (Candy Ride [Arg]), Giant Oak (Giant's Causeway), Ghost Five, Dynamic Force (Dance Master), Appalachian Trail (Monashee Mountain) and Albin (Johar) rounded out the order of finish.

Bittel Road now sports $204,640 in earnings. A front-running debut winner going six grassy furlongs at Belmont Park, he overcame a bump at the start to win the 1 1/16-mile With Anticipation S. at Saratoga last time out.

"This colt is one that we liked all along," Pletcher said. "He was able to break his maiden going three-quarters and go to the front doing that, and overcame some adversity at Saratoga to win. So we knew he was a quality colt, but I thought today he was very, very good.

"We hope to go to the Breeders' Cup if everything comes out well," he added.

Bred by Iracane in Kentucky, Bittel Road was purchased by J.J. Pletcher, the trainer's father, for $340,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the winning Sultry Song mare Sultry Sal, a full sister to Grade 3 scorer Top Notch Lady, and Bittel Road himself has a weanling full sister. This is the family of Wajima (Bold Ruler), the champion three-year-old colt of 1975, and multiple stakes-winning sire Naskra (Nasram).

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