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Master Command sizzles in Mineshaft
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Master Command gave notice to his rivals in the handicap division on Saturday
(Lou Hodges Jr.) |
Aaron and Marie Jones' MASTER COMMAND (A.P. Indy) overtook pacesetter Purim
(Dynaformer) at the head of the stretch and powered home a convincing six-length
winner of the $194,000
Mineshaft H. (G3) at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Ridden by
John Velazquez, the chestnut broke a step slowly but quickly got himself in good
position, tracking on the outside through splits of :48 and 1:12 for
the opening six furlongs. The five-year-old found his best stride late, spurting
past Purim and leaving the field in his wake. He completed 1 1/16 miles in a
stakes-record 1:42.25
on the fast dirt, just outside the track mark of 1:42.02. Saddled by Todd Pletcher, the 3-5 winner paid $3.40, $2.60
and $2.20 while topping the $22.20 exacta, $110.20 trifecta and $308.60
superfecta (5-4-3-1).
Patriot Act (A.P. Indy) closed from the back to gain the place spot, good
for $5.40 and $3.60 at 9-1 odds. Well Said (Aptitude) rallied but fell a neck
shy of second, worth $4 at 10-1. Sandburr (Sandpit [Brz]) was next, completing
the super at 19-1, and trailed by 4-1 second choice Purim and Welcome Again
(Awesome Again). Bureaucratic (A.P. Indy) was withdrawn.
Master Command notched his third graded victory in here while increasing his
bankroll to $659,018. He sports a career mark of 13-6-2-2, which includes tallies
in the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup S. (G2) and William Donald Schaefer H. (G3) as
well as
a placing in the Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup H. (G3).
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Bred in Pennsylvania by Brushwood Stable, the winner was purchased for
$650,000 at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. Master Command is out
of the winning Lord at War (Arg) mare Lady Lochinvar, who has also produced last
year's Spinaway S. (G1) third X Star (Pulpit) as well as a yearling filly
by Pulpit. Lady Lochinvar is herself a full sister to Grade 1 queen La Gueriere,
who is the dam of Grade 2 hero Lasting Approval (With Approval), and a
half-sister to Grade 1 winner Al Mamoon (Believe It), Grade 3 victor Lost
Soldier (Danzig) and 1995 Austrian highweight Born Wild (Wild Again). The
incomparable Allez France (*Sea Bird), one of the all-time greats of the French
turf, hails from this same branch of the *La Troienne family.
Pletcher said that Master Command would likely return for the March 10 New
Orleans H. (G2).
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