Everett Dobson's Cheyenne Stables and Edward K. Gaylord's Gaillardia Racing's Opry (Declaration of War) came flying late to earn his diploma and black-type badge in one fell swoop in Saratoga's GIII With Anticipation S. Wednesday. The dark bay closed well to be third in a seven-panel off-the-turfer here Aug. 11 and was given a 7-2 chance in this stretch out and switch to the lawn. Slowest away from the stalls while also bearing out several paths, Opry was quickly straightened out and positioned along the hedge by Javier Castellano, trailing the field as Joyful Heart (Kitten's Joy) clocked opening splits of :23.29 and :47.91. Beginning to come alive on the turn for home, the $180,000 KEESEP buy unleashed a powerful late rally down the center of the stretch, swiftly inhaling the field, to win going away. Even-money favorite Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown) was second and the pacesetter held for third.
Opry is the seventh maiden to win the With Anticipation and this was the sixth victory in 14 editions of this event for trainer Todd Pletcher. Last year's renewal was won by former Pletcher assistant Jonathan Thomas with Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), who captured Saturday's GI Travers S. and last month's GI Belmont Derby.
“I thought he'd break a little better than he did his first time out with that experience, but he clearly didn't,” said Pletcher. “Talking to Javier after, he said even though he was pretty far back, he felt like he had a lot of horse and he was finding a good rhythm, so he felt very confident down the backside.”
The conditioner continued, “The plan was to run him on the dirt when we initially entered him and he drew the also eligible. That race came off the turf and we decided not to run even though we could've drawn in. We entered him back and the race came off the turf again, and so I figured he trained well enough on the dirt that we needed to get him started. He ran a respectable race that day and I'd been impressed enough with his turf works to think it wasn't crazy to enter here. For now, we'll look to stay on the turf and see what he does.”
Pedigree Notes:
Opry is the fourth graded stakes winner for second crop sire Declaration of War (War Front) and the fifth black-type victor. The winner is a half to the MSP 4-year-old filly Gris Gris (Spring At Last). Their dam That Voodoo Youdo was purchased by Springhouse Farm for $110,000 carrying a foal by Scat Daddy at the 2015 Keeneland January Sale. That foal is the now 3-year-old gelding California Yoohoo. The 11-year-old mare is also responsible for a yearling filly by Liam's Map, catalogued as hip 503 in the upcoming Keeneland September Sale, and a weanling full-sister to Opry. She was bred back to new Ashford sire Practical Joke, a MGISW son of Into Mischief.
Wednesday, Saratoga
WITH ANTICIPATION S.-GIII, $150,000, Saratoga, 8-29, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.00, fm.
1–OPRY, 116, c, 2, by Declaration of War
1st Dam: That Voodoo Youdo, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Our Friend Terry, by Cox's Ridge
3rd Dam: Endicotta, by Roberto
*1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($180,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Cheyenne Stables LLC & Gaillardia Racing LLC; B-Crosshaven Bloodstock (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Javier Castellano. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $92,700. *1/2 to Gris Gris (Spring At Last), MSP, $131,300. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”paramount-hip-503″][bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”][bullet ad=”bradshaw-randy-shell”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Somelikeithotbrown, 120, c, 2, Big Brown–Marilyn Monroan, by Tapit. O-Skychai Racing LLC; B-Hot Pink Stables & Sand Dollar Stables (NY); T-Michael J Maker. $30,000.[bullet ad=”crestwood-foaledraised”]3–Joyful Heart, 120, c, 2, Kitten's Joy–Blue Heart, by Exchange Rate. ($37,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-Brian A Lynch. $18,000.
Margins: 1HF, 2 1/4, HF. Odds: 3.90, 1.10, 4.70.
Also Ran: Swamp Rat, Seanow, Gunslinger (Ire). Scratched: Unionizer, Lexitonian, Stage Left, Backtohisroots, Yes and Yes, Henley's Joy.
Click for the Equineline.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
