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Doubles Partner proves a true grass-court player in American Turf
"I had a perfect trip -- I really did," Gomez said. "I was able to follow two horses that were following the leaders. I just followed behind them. I got to the second turn and I was actually going to move out around them. Just as I started to commit myself to go around them the horse Alan Garcia was on (Saint Eligius) started getting out real bad and left me enough room to drive my truck through. I slid up the fence after the leaders cleared out. "You couldn't have written a better script on how to ride both fences around the turns and be able to get out. It was a very nice trip and this was a good day to have it on." Asphalt (War Chant) closed for a commendable second, finishing three lengths clear of his nearest pursuer, and the 10-1 chance provided his backers with $8.80 and $5.80. Guys Reward (Grand Reward), who stumbled at the break and was last of nine through the opening six furlongs, got up for third, paying $7.60 to show. The exotics totaled $95 (exacta), $790 (trifecta) and $3,659.40 (6-7-3-1 superfecta) with the 9-5 favorite Setsuko (Pleasantly Perfect) along belatedly for fourth. Setsuko, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up, was hoping to get into Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1), but he was excluded because of insufficient graded earnings. The American Turf was definitely billed as a back-up plan. "Rafael (jockey Rafael Bejarano) told me he was lost out there," trainer Richard Mandella said of Setsuko. "That he was completely uncomfortable and never got in the race. I'll tell you, I don't think I'm going to be in a hurry to put him back on the grass." Workin for Hops ran evenly and held fifth, followed by Gleam of Hope (City Zip), Saint Eligius, Strike the Tiger and Lost Aptitude. Make Music for Me (Bernstein), who squeaked into the Kentucky Derby field after all, was scratched, as was Alfarabi (Yes It's True). Doubles Partner's first stakes win advanced his mark to 7-3-0-1, $184,090. Well beaten in his first two outings on the dirt, Doubles Partner was dropped in for an $80,000 tag at Keeneland, but he failed to put his best foot forward on the Polytrack and faded to 13th. Pletcher tried him on the turf next time out at Churchill, and Doubles Partner responded by rallying from far back to take the maiden special weight by a head. He followed up with an entry-level turf allowance score in his sophomore debut at Gulfstream Park, where he denied subsequent Florida Derby (G1) fourth Lentenor (Dynaformer) by a half-length. "We thought early on he lacked a little focus, but he's a lot more professional and settled now," Pletcher said. "We tried the Lane's End, but he's just better on the turf. He's stepping up at the right time and is an improving colt. At the head of the stretch, he looked like he produced a big kick at the right time. He's a rapidly improving colt, and he has some exciting and big turf races to come on the schedule this summer." Bred by Arthur I. Appleton in Florida, Doubles Partner commanded $450,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. He is out of the aptly-named Serena's Sister (Rahy), a full sister to Hall of Famer, champion and $3.2 million earner Serena's Song, who has achieved great success as a broodmare. Serena's Song has produced Coronation S. (Eng-G1) queen Sophisticat (Storm Cat), herself a Group 1 stakes producer; Grade 2 heroes Grand Reward (Storm Cat) and Harlington (Unbridled); and multiple stakes heroine Serena's Tune (Mr. Prospector), the dam of dual Group 3 victor Vocalised (Vindication). Serena's Sister is responsible for stakes winner Stormy Venus (Stormy Atlantic); the unraced Serene Lake (Meadowlake), the dam of Grade 3-placed Izzie's Halo (Halo's Image); and an unnamed yearling full sister to Doubles Partner, by Rock Hard Ten.
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