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| Creative Cause winning the Best Pal (G2). Photo: Horsephotos.com |
Graded Stakes Review
Best Pal S. (G2)
Trainer: Mike Harrington
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Hammered to 4-5 odds, Creative Cause (NP) supported his backers with a professional performance in his stakes debut Sunday. Allowing I’ll Have Another and Brigand (NP) to battle the first stages of the race on the frontend, Rafael Bejarano was able to keep Creative Cause relaxed in a stalking position. At the top of the stretch it appeared I’ll Have Another had another gear, but Creative Cause apparently had another two gears as he blew past that rival on the outside and drew off to a 1 3/4 length win.
Confidence was overflowing for the connections afterward. Bejarano said the colt will only get better with experience and added distance. Trainer Mike Harrington even insisted he has two other Heinz Steinmann-owned juveniles that show more promise than the winner.
The Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept 7 is the next stop where Creative Cause will most likely meet Majestic City to determine who’s the best in The West.
Notable Performances:
Currency Swap
Trainer: Teresa Pompay
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Artilces: NYRA
Yet another high Beyer earner from the Saratoga circuit, Currency Swap was a surprise winner on Saturday. Sent off at 10-1 odds, he was facing the more highly regarded Takes The Gold ($140,000 Fasig-Tipton July) and Todd Pletcher entry Street Fight ($200,000 Fasig-Tipton February).
Currency Swap had an excellent break and looked as though he would try to set the pace, but the two favorites decided to duke it out instead. Appearing to retreat in the backstretch, Rajiv Maragh was able to spark Currency Swap’s interest and make a 4-wide move heading into the stretch. With Takes The Gold reeling from the fast early fractions, Currency Swap passed him easily and extended to a 6 length win.
Trainer Teresa Pompay decided to ship him to the tough Saratoga circuit based on clocker reports at Monmouth, where they claimed he was among the best 2-year-olds in training there. She said the Hopeful (G1) on Sept 5 would be the next target, which would pit him against two highly touted 2-year-olds in Overdriven and J C’s Pride.
Currency Swap is the second CTD Notable Performer from freshmen sire High Cotton, who was a Derby Trail participant but won his biggest race afterwards in the 1 1/16 mile Northern Dancer at Churchill. Currency Swap is out of an unraced mare who is a half sister to a stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles.
His catalog page can be viewed here
2YO Non-Graded Stakes Results:
8/6/11 Mountaineer Juvenile S.- MNR- Winner: Back Door Kenny chart
8/6/11 Sunny’s Halo S.- LAD- Winner: Tequilla Factor chart
8/6/11 Florida Stallion Dr Fager S- CRC- Winner: Fort Loudon chart
8/6/11 Silver Cup Futurity- ARP- Winner: Mr Barman chart
8/6/11 Iowa Cradle S.- PRM- Winner: Peaks of Legend chart
8/6/11 Harlequin S- MD- Winner: Canadian Union chart
8/7/11 Premio Esmeralda- EMD- Winner: Silver Boxcar chart
Works:
8/1/11 Boltzapper- CRC- 4F- 50:40- B- 11/23
8/2/11 Stat- SAR- 5F- 1:01.23- B- 2/15
8/3/11 Majestic City- DMR- 4F- 48:60- H- 16/31
8/3/11 Twelve Hundred- AP- 4F- 1:00.80- B- 2/19
8/3/11 Jakemo- LS- 5F- 1:03.00- B- 1/2
8/5/11 Hogy- AP- 5F-1:00.00- H- 2/34
8/6/11 Jack’s In The Deck- LP- 4F- 50:00- B- 36/61
8/6/11 Canigotoo- CD- 4F- 49:80- B- 12/36
Other News:
Bucci-owned horse breaks track record at Saratoga (The Livingston County Journal)
Top 2YO Speed Figures*:
Top winning 2yo BRIS figs last wk: Currency Swap-108; Gun Boat-98; Hunt Crossing-95; Champions Gate-94; Peaks of Legend & Silent Thunder-93
Winning 2yo Beyers last week: Currency Swap-98; Gun Boat-83; Hunt Crossing-87; Champions Gate-79; Peaks of Legend-73;Silent Thunder-64
Futures:
