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Teuflesberg takes Woody
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Teuflesberg broke through at the graded level on Saturday
(Patrick Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) |
TEUFLESBERG (Johannesburg) overcame a rough trip to win the $247,166
Woody
Stephens Breeders' Cup S. (G2) going away on Saturday. Named in honor of the
Hall of Fame conditioner who won five straight Belmont S. (G1) (1981-86), the
Woody Stephens marked the first graded stakes victory for the Jamie
Sanders-trained Teuflesberg, who improved his lifetime mark to 17-5-1-2,
$535,431, with the two-length score.
The bay colt was outrun early after stumbling at the start. Stormello (Stormy
Atlantic) broke running and showed the way through opening splits in :22 1/5 and
:44 4/5, with 9-5 favorite Deadly Dealer (Concerto) in hot pursuit. The
eight-horse field was tightly packed approaching the far turn, with the eventual
winner racing in last, and Teuflesberg was steadied briefly while rallying up
the inside on the bend. He quickly regained his momentum under Robby Albarado
and charged into the stretch, powering his way to the front along the inside
while completing three-quarters of a mile in 1:09. Teuflesberg was never
threatened in the final furlong, completing the seven-furlong test over the fast
Belmont strip in 1:21 2/5.
Dismissed as the 8-1 fourth choice, the Jeff Singer, Gary Logsdon, Donnie
Kelly and Sanders colorbearer returned $18.20, $9.40 and $5.10. Most
Distinguished (Dixie Union) closed for runner-up honors at 11-1, giving back $10
and $5.20, and it was three parts of a length back to the 3-1 Stormello, who
paid $3.50. The exotics totaled $196.50 (exacta), $704 (trifecta) and $6,275 for
the 4-6-3-1 superfecta, which included the 16-1 Bill Place (Master Bill) in
fourth. Street Magician (Street Cry [Ire]), Not for Money (Not for Love), Deadly
Dealer and Hobbitontherocks (Lion Hearted) rounded out the order of finish.
Sports Town (Belong to Me) and Out of Gwedda (Out of Place) were withdrawn.
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Winner of this year's Southwest S. and the Sugar Bowl S. at two, Teuflesberg
has also placed in the Sanford S. (G2), Rebel S. (G3) and Lecomte S. (G3), and
he finished a close fourth, beaten only a neck, in the Blue Grass S. (G1). After
finishing 15th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his previous start, the
Kentucky-bred colt relished the cutback to seven panels on Saturday.
"I was so excited when I saw him come up the inside during the stretch run,"
Sander said. "It was unbelievable! We knew what kind of a horse he was going
into the race. He has so much class, and he keeps doing it over and over. We
were confident."
"He has overcome a lot of obstacles in his career, and he showed it today,"
Albarado added. "He has always run well at one turn. He has been well matched
this year, and this was a breath of fresh air for him."
Bred by Richard Giacopelli in Kentucky, Teuflesberg was purchased for only $9,000 as a
yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October sale. He hails from the Devil's
Bag mare St. Michele, who is also the dam of a yearling filly by Lion Heart.
Sanders said Teuflesberg will likely be pointed toward the seven-furlong
King's Bishop S. (G1) on August 25, but the 1 1/4-mile Travers S. (G1) on the
same day remains an option.
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