|
Daredevil continues to impress in Champagne
 |
| Daredevil proved much the
best for the second straight time over a wet track (Adam
Coglianese Photo) |
Let's Go Stable's Daredevil accelerated to the lead entering the stretch of
Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000
Champagne at Belmont Park
and dominated to the finish line, winning handily by a 2 1/2-length margin. Now
unbeaten from two starts, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt has established himself
as a top contender for the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on November 1.
"I thought it was very impressive," Pletcher said. "He rated kindly and did
everything you would hope one would do. He finished really well and I couldn't
be more pleased. His training for us has been really impressive in the
mornings."
Javier Castellano was up on the son of More Than Ready.
"He's a special horse," the jockey noted. "I worked him last weekend and he
was very impressive the way he did it. He didn't do anything much today; he just
galloped along."
|
Daredevil opened his racing career with a 6 1/4-length thrashing of maiden
special weight foes on September 13, winning over a muddy track at Belmont Park.
The chestnut caught another wet track in the Champagne, completing the one-mile
distance in 1:36 3/5 over the sloppy, sealed oval.
"We'd never breezed him on an off track, so I was a little concerned running
him the first time (on a muddy track September 13), but we felt pedigree-wise he
would handle it, and he obviously does," Pletcher said. "He trains like a good
horse on fast dirt, too."
 |
| Daredevil
is one of two serious Breeders' Cup Juvenile
prospects for Pletcher along with Breeders' Futurity winner
Carpe Diem (Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese
Photo) |
Favored at 8-5 among six rivals, Daredevil broke inwardly from post 6 and
wound up settling a few lengths off the pace during the early stages, racing
well off the rail through an opening quarter-mile in :22 4/5.
Holy Boss was showing the way on a short lead and Daredevil advanced to
second, a half-length back after a half-mile in :44 1/5. Castellano still had
his mount under a tight hold turning for home and Daredevil responded quickly
when called upon in upper stretch, sticking a head in front as he reached the
three-quarters point in 1:11 1/5.
Daredevil rolled home much the best and returned a paltry win payout of
$5.40. He received 10 points for winning the "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series
race and increased his bankroll to $345,000.
"The one thing I told Todd just now is that he reminded me of Bernardini when
he won the Jim Dandy," Castellano said. "He just splashed along today; he liked
the track. He'll do whatever you ask him to."
|
"(Sitting off the pace) was a function of drawing the outside post," Pletcher
added. "You draw the inside, you have to go and secure a position. We were
fortunate to get a good post position and he was professional enough to take
advantage of it."
Upstart, the 7-2 third choice in the wagering, offered a nice turn of foot
through the final furlongs to be a non-threatening second, 12 3/4 lengths clear
of 18-1 longshot The Truth Or Else in third. El Kabeir, Holy Boss and I Spent I
came next under the wire.
Bred in Kentucky by Marianne and Brandon Chase, Daredevil was purchased by
his connections for $260,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September sale. He's out of
the winning Forty Niner mare Chasethewildwind, dam of Grade 1-winning
millionaire Albertus Maximus, who counted the 2008 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile among
his stakes victories.
Grade 1 winner Race the Wild Wind, a daughter of Sunny's Halo, is Daredevil's
second maternal dam. She's responsible for French highweight King Charlemagne;
Group 3 hero Meshaheer; and Chasetheragingwind, dam of Grade 1 winner Here Comes
Ben.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
Send this article to a friend
| 
