GRADUATION S., $101,035, DMR, 8-6, (S), 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:05.27, ft.
1–#CONTINENTAL DIVIDE, 118, c, 2, by Animal Kingdom
1st Dam: Bandora (MSP), by Dixieland Band
2nd Dam: Andora Springs, by Capote
3rd Dam: Andora, by Conquistador Cielo
($45,000 Ylg '16 BAROCT; $245,000 2yo '17 BARMAY). O-D P
Racing; B-PT Syndicate #1, LLC (CA); T-James M. Cassidy;
J-Victor Espinoza. $57,000. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $69,000.
*Third winner, second stakes winner for freshman sire (by
Leroidesanimaux {Brz})
2–Smokem, 120, c, 2, Union Rags–One Smokin' Lady, by Smoke
Glacken. ($120,000 RNA Ylg '16 BARSEL). O-Bada Beng Racing
LLC, Victor Flores & Terry C. Lovingier; B-Terry C. Lovingier
(CA); T-Gary Sherlock. $19,000.
3–Drizzy, 120, g, 2, English Channel–Grant Marty a Wish, by
Beautiful Crown. O/B-Richard Barton Enterprises (CA);
T-Michael Machowsky. $12,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2 3/4, HF. Odds: 3.60, 3.30, 3.00.
Also Ran: Cono, Schulace, Get Em Up Scout, Utah Ute, Bookies Luck, Hit the Seam. Scratched: Don't Stalk Me, Sir Valentine.
Continental Divide made a huge move on the turn and held on late to win the California-bred Graduation S. at Del Mar, becoming the second stakes winner and third overall winner in North America for his freshman sire (by Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).
Rallying after a slow start to be second in his local debut to re-opposing Smokem (Union Rags) July 21, the $245,000 Barretts March buy was made the close third choice and settled in midpack behind a sharp :21.81 quarter. Sent after the leaders at the three-eighths pole, the bay launched a slingshot four-wide bid and blew past the pace players in a matter of strides nearing the turn for home. Clear into the final furlong, Continental Divide flattened a bit late as the aforementioned Smokem tried to rally up the inside, but he had enough left in the tank to stave that one off. The victor's dam has a yearling colt by Smiling Tiger and foaled a Vronsky colt this season before returning to the former sire.
“That move he made scared me to death,” said winning trainer Jim Cassidy. “I'm thinking 'Victor [Espinoza], you might be a little premature here.' But what a nice colt. And he wants to go farther so that's a good thing. That price we paid for him looks like a fair one now. Right from day one he has never, ever let anything bother him. You can set a bomb off next to him and he doesn't care. He's got the greatest mind. He's not fully prepared yet. I'd like to see a little more weight on him and a little more color in him and get a little bigger and stronger. We'll give him a chance now and see when he makes me run him again.” Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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