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Elusive makes winning Bluff in Pilgrim Southern Equine Stable's ELUSIVE BLUFF (Elusive Quality) pushed his record to a perfect two-for-two when making his stakes debut in Wednesday's $159,300 Pilgrim S. (G3) at Belmont Park. With Michael Baze aboard, the bay juvenile was content to settle near the back of the six-horse field through splits of :26, :51 1/5, 1:16 4/5 and 1:41 2/5 set by Show Me the Cash (Artax), came with his rally down the center of the lane and managed to get his neck down on the line in front of the longtime pacesetter. While Elusive Bluff made his racing debut for Bill Badgett Jr., he finished up this 1 1/16-mile, yielding inner turf test in 1:47 4/5 for new trainer Eric Guillot. Though Elusive Bluff earned an automatic bid in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on October 25 at Santa Anita with this win, Michael Mareno of Southern Equine Stable indicated that the colt is also under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on the same day. Sent off the near 7-2 fourth pick, Elusive Bluff paid $8.90, $6 and $3.30 while keying the $103.50 exacta and $330 trifecta (3-7-9). Show Me the Cash was worth $15.20 and $5.20 as the 19-1 long shot, and it was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Relatively Ready (More Than Ready) in third. Show gave back $3.10 as the near 5-2 favorite. Duke of Homberg (GB) (Dynaformer) followed in fourth by a nose, while Pynaformer (Dynaformer) and Herr Mozart (Mr. Greeley) completed the order of finish. Bittel Road (Stormy Atlantic), Giant Talent (Giant's Causeway) and Scientist (Intidab) were all withdrawn. Bred in Kentucky by Eldon Farm Equine LLC, Elusive Bluff has now earned $127,380. The bay colt has passed through the sale's ring three times, bringing $275,000 as a Keeneland November weanling, $50,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and RNAing for $140,000 as a Keeneland April two-year-old. Elusive Bluff is out of 2000 Mrs. Revere S. (G2) queen Megans Bluff (Pine Bluff), who also captured that same year's Arlington Oaks (G3) and Arlington Matron H. (G3) as well as back-to-back runnings of the Mint Julep H. (G3) (2001-2002). The 11-year-old mare has also produced an unnamed yearling colt by Unbridled's Song and a weanling colt by Forestry. This is the same family as multiple stakes king and 1997 Canadian Derby hero Smoky Cinder (Incinderator).
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