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Wrote pens winning script in Juvenile Turf
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| Wrote was coming off a third to Juvenile runner Daddy Long Legs
(Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) |
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Wrote got Europe
on the board at the 28th Breeders' Cup when scoring a commanding victory
in Saturday's $909,000
Juvenile Turf. Trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore,
the son of O'Brien's two-time Turf winner High Chaparral drove past the
battling pair of Excaper and Farraaj to win by 2 1/4 lengths. The 11-1
chance paid $25.20, $13.80 and $8.60 and sparked the $964 exacta,
$8,131.20 trifecta and $90,140.40 superfecta.
Wrote flattered his stablemate Daddy Long Legs, who was to take part
in the Juvenile later on the card. Last time out, Wrote finished third
to Daddy Long Legs in the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket.
In the early going at Churchill Downs, Majestic City dictated through
fractions of :23 3/5 and :48 1/5. Excaper prompted in second, while
English shipper Farraaj traveled beautifully in third, and Wrote was
biding his time roughly five lengths back in seventh.
Excaper and Farraaj overtook a weakening Majestic City through six
furlongs in 1:13 1/5, and they staged a rousing duel in the stretch. By
that point, though, Wrote was produced wider out. Surging clear in a
powerful display, he drew off to finish one mile on the good turf in
1:37 2/5. |
"I had a nice trip -- good position all the way," Moore said. "When I got to
the outside, he picked it up really well in the stretch."
"He traveled so well all the way, so he did," O'Brien said. "It's absolutely
brilliant. I'm really, really pleased."
Excaper bested Farraaj for second by a nose.
"The race set up just the way we planned," said Emma-Jayne Wilson, who rode
Excaper. "Sometimes, it does not do that, but today it did. He is a raw talent
and been a good pupil, and learned his lessons well. (Trainer) Ian (Black) had
been down here all week and he said the turf was a little softer down on the
inside, so I kept him off the rail. He ran great, and only one horse beat us."
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| Wrote hails from the family of Nureyev and Sadler's Wells
(Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) |
"It was a good race," Farraaj's jockey Neil Callan said. "I got a good pitch
from the gate, traveled just off the speed. Just when I went for my split into
the straight the second horse (Excaper) leaned on me a little. Ultimately he
galloped out well to the line. He's a lengthening sort of horse. That's why I
committed him at the top of the stretch. He ran very creditably. I was proud of
him."Lucky Chappy checked in another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth, followed by
Animal Spirits, Daddy Nose Best, 4-1 favorite Finale, Caspar Netscher, Shkspeare
Shaliyah, Fantastic Song, Coalport, State of Play, Majestic City and the
also-eligible Tequila Factor. Gung Ho was scratched.
John Velazquez was ruing the trip endured by Finale, a Todd Pletcher trainee
who represents the same ownership as the victorious Wrote.
"The post (12) kind of hurt him," Velazquez said. "I tried to find a place to
tuck in going to the first turn, but it was too crowded and he wanted to run. We
were five-wide into the turn and we probably lost the race right there."
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Wrote was third in his debut at Roscommon on August 15, then broke his maiden
by a nose one week later at Cork. The bay wheeled right back with a two-length
decision in a premier nursery at Galway, but didn't get the best of trips when
third in the Royal Lodge. His Breeders' Cup heroics advanced his resume to
5-3-0-2, $600,899.
Bred by Speers Bloodstock in Ireland, Wrote failed to sell when attracting a
bid of $38,078 as a Tattersalls December weanling. At the same venue the next
October, he went to his current connections for $243,112.
Wrote was produced by the Green Desert mare Desert Classic. His third dam,
the winning Durrah, is a full sister to multiple Grade 2 queen Number and Grade
1-placed stakes victress Bound, both noted matrons. Durrah is also a half-sister
to world-renowned sire Nureyev and to champion Fairy Bridge, the dam of another
super-sire in Sadler's Wells.
Another family member starred here last year -- champion older male Blame,
who famously denied Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
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