Carpe Diem repels challenges to win going away on debut

Three races after his highly regarded stablemate Competitive Edge ran away

with the Hopeful, Carpe Diem emerged as yet another Todd Pletcher juvenile to

follow with a gutsy, and ultimately convincing, debut in

Saratoga's

7TH

race on Monday.

The joint sales topper at

OBS March when selling for $1.6 million, Carpe Diem is a Giant's Causeway

half-brother to 2010 Breeders' Futurity winner J.B.'s Thunder and to multiple

English stakes scorer and Group 3-placed Doncaster Rover. The powerfully made

chestnut was bet down to 3-5 favoritism here with Hall of Famer John Velazquez

in the saddle, and justified that status after surviving a potentially bruising

pace war.

Carpe Diem was drawn on the rail, and thereby unaffected by a rough start

that compromised several others. He flashed speed from the gate, but felt

sustained pressure from Louisiana Brown. After testing fractions of :21 4/5 and

:44 4/5 on the fast track, Louisiana Brown was the first to crack. Carpe Diem,

however, also looked softened up at the head of the lane.

By that point, Ready for Rye -- one who had been hampered at the break --

rolled up on the outside to challenge. In the process, he came over into the

path of the tiring Louisiana Brown.

Although Ready for Rye appeared to head Carpe Diem, the favorite was far from

done. The strength, stamina, and fighting spirit of Giant's Causeway rose up

within his son, and Carpe Diem found extra to respond after five furlongs in :57

2/5. He not only rebuffed his newest rival, but put him away decisively, opened

up by 2 1/2 lengths, and sped 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03 4/5.

Ready for Rye crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Louisiana Brown, but

the rider of that third-place finisher, Luis Saez, claimed foul against Javier

Castellano aboard Ready for Rye. The stewards also posted the inquiry sign.

Following review of the alleged interference, the order of finish was allowed to

stand.

Carpe Diem, who paid $3.40 to win, banked $49,800 for himself. Bred in

Kentucky by Coffee Pot Stable, the promising colt is out of the Grade 2-placed

stakes heroine Rebridled Dreams, an Unbridled's Song mare. Carpe Diem was first

sold for $550,000 as a

Keeneland September yearling. He turned out to be a successful pinhook for

Northwest Stud, which offered him at OBS in March.

Stonestreet Stables signed the $1.6 million ticket, and now campaigns him in

partnership with WinStar

Farm.

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