CONTACT: kjones@parxracing.com
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Bayern sets track record, beats ‘Chrome’ in Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby
By John Scheinman
BENSALEM, Pa. – Rebounding from a last-place finish in the Travers Stakes, Kaleem Shah’s Bayern once again displayed his formidable front-runner prowess as he vanquished Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome and a standout field Saturday to win the Grade 2, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-olds at Parx Racing.
Ridden by Martin Garcia for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Bayern bounced out to a two-length lead through an opening quarter-mile in 24.07 seconds and maintained his advantage the entire way around before opening up in the stretch to win by 5 ¾ lengths over runner-up Tapiture.
In victory, Bayern set a Parx Racing track record, completing the 1 1/8-mile dirt race in 1:46.96 seconds before a crowd of more than 16,000.
The all-source handle of $10,396,671 on the 13-race card smashed the all-time record of $5,519,897 set last year on Pennsylvania Derby Day by 88 percent.
Bayern’s victory was reminiscent of his overpowering effort in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational in July at Monmouth Park, and Baffert, who watched the race at home in California, was elated.
“That was just a powerful performance,” Baffert said. “He broke well and they let us go and [jockey] Martin [Garcia] hustled to get away from California Chrome. When California Chrome was pinned in there I knew it was going be tough for California Chrome. He was the target – we weren’t the target. When Bayern runs like that, nobody’s going to beat him.”
California Chrome, making his first start since being denied the Triple Crown when fourth in the Belmont Stakes, broke sharply and was taken back to race in third in tight quarters going into the first turn. After riding the rail and stalking the pace, Jockey Victor Espinoza asked his colt to rally in the stretch, but California Chrome failed to respond and was eased in the final sixteenth of a mile, finishing sixth in the field of eight.
“I wish [Espinoza] could have gotten him out; the pace was not that fast,” said California Chrome’s trainer Art Sherman. “You know, you hate making excuses, but I thought he could have gone after that horse a little bit earlier and got out from behind, but the other horse kept him down on the rail, which I really didn’t want. He is a lot more comfortable if you can ease him out. It didn’t happen, and he hasn’t run in a long time. He probably needed the race.”
The victory launched Bayern into the picture for Three-Year-Old Championship honors as he added the Pennsylvania Derby to wins in the Grade 1 Haskell and the Grade 2 Woody Stephens.
As the 3-1 second choice, Bayern paid $9 for a $2 win bet. The $562,000 winner’s purse increased the colt’s lifetime earnings to $1,639,680 in nine starts.
Runner-up Tapiture was followed home by Candy Boy, Noble Moon, C J’s Awesome, California Chrome, Protonico and Classic Giancroll.
Shah and Baffert each collected $50,000 bonuses that Parx awarded to the connections of Pennsylvania Derby horses that had won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Haskell Invitational or Travers. Sherman and California Chrome’s owner Ron Winchell received $100,000 bonuses for having won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Untapable untouchable in winning Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion
Returning to the form that made her the top 3-year-old filly in the country this past spring, Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Untapable overcame a gritty front-running effort by Jojo Warrior and held off a rally by Sweet Reason to win the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion.
Ridden by Rosie Napravnik and trained by Steve Asmussen, the daughter of Tapit beat Sweet Reason by a length, with Jojo Warrior a length back in third, completing the 1 1/16-mile dirt race in 1:42.71 over a fast track.
The victory was the third Grade 1 stakes of Untapable’s stellar season, with the only defeat suffered in her past six starts coming when she was fifth to Bayern and other males in her most recent start, the Haskell Invitational.
“I was extremely pleased to have her back in the winner's circle where we feel she belongs,” Asmussen said. “I think a lot of little things added up to [the Haskell defeat] not being her day. I was very proud that she came out of a tough race like that, tough circumstances, to win a Grade 1.
“This is her third Grade 1 of the year. We’re very proud to have her. The Winchell family bred a tremendous filly.”
Asmussen said Untapable would be flown to California on Sunday morning to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Jojo Warrior, trained by Bob Baffert, led the Cotillion through an opening quarter-mile in 23.49 seconds and a half in 46.62 while hounded by Cassatt. Napravnik kept Untapable reserved, off the rail and in the clear, stalking in third place.
Nearing the quarter pole, Napravnik asked Untapable to move to the leaders and she attacked three wide, followed by Sweet Reason. Cassatt gave way at the top of the stretch, while Jojo Warrior dug in on the inside, but Untapable proved best.
“It set up well when the two horses in front got into a little fight on the first turn,” Napravnik said. “I sat chilly with her and let her move when she was ready. She is all class. She ran great, training great and no reason not for her to go forward.”
Little Alexis finished fourth followed by Cassatt, Joint Return, Vero Amore and House Rules.
Untapable paid $3 for a $2 win wager as the 1-2 favorite. The $562,000 winner’s purse increased her lifetime earnings to $1,896,725 in 10 starts.
“To me this wins solidifies the Eclipse [Award],” Winchell said. “She dug in and it was good to get it done after the Haskell Invitational.”
Hometown horse Favorite Tale wins Grade 3 Gallant Bob
Recovering from a stumbling start, PJG Stable’s Favorite Tale engaged in a torrid speed duel with favored Fast Anna and then pulled away in the lane to win the Grade 3, $300,000 Gallant Bob by 2 ½ lengths.
Trained by Guadalupe Preciado and ridden by John Bisono, the Parx Racing-based gelding won the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds in a time of 1:08.16 to keep his record a perfect 4-for-4 at the track.
Sent off at odds of 3-1, Favorite Tale engaged Fast Anna through an opening quarter-mile in 21.33 seconds and a half-mile in 43.38 before Favorite Tale opened up in the lane. Fast Anna hung on for second, beating 20-1 long shot Bump Start by a neck.
The winner paid $9 for a $2 win wager.
"You know what? It was a tough race, nice horses, but we're home,” Preciado said. “He never lost on this track yet. There's nothing like being home. When he broke, he stumbled. We were supposed to go. That was the plan, to go and let them catch him.”
A claim of foul by Paco Lopez, the rider of fifth-place finisher Prudhoe Bay, against Pure Sensation for interference at the start was disallowed.
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