Super Saturday for WinStar
By Steve Sherack
It was a banner day at the races for Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm at Gulfstream Saturday, headed by Revolutionary (War Pass)’s popular win off the shelf (video) and Constitution (Tapit)’s ultra-impressive debut (video).
The latter, campaigned in partnership with Twin Creeks Racing, lived up to the billing as the even-money favorite after badly blowing the break. The sophomore rocketed up toward daylight along the rail and raced into a swift opening quarter in :22.63. Duking it out with second-choice Juba (Tapit) while pinned on the inside through a half mile in :44.82, those two continued to race shoulder to shoulder into the stretch, and Constitution began to shake clear late to take it by a visually impressive length. The $400,000 FTSAUG yearling purchase–produced by a stakes-placed half-sister to GI Forego S. hero Emcee (Unbridled’s Song)–stopped the clock for seven furlongs in 1:23.36, good for an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. The “TDN Rising Star” is trained by Todd Pletcher.
“It was really impressive,” WinStar Farm President/CEO & Racing Manager Elliott Walden commented. “I can’t think of in my 30 years in the business seeing a handful of horses breaking as bad as he did, rush up and then win. You just don’t see it.”
Walden continued, “Not only was he impressive from the standpoint of how fast he ran during the first part of it to get back in the race, he was put in a duel down on the inside and prevailed against the second and third horses that had already started. He galloped out really well and he gallops out very well in his breezes. While he’s very talented and has some speed, he doesn’t appear to be one dimensional.”
As for what may be next, Walden concluded, “We haven’t really thought about it yet. We were just happy to get the win and we’ll see where we go from here.”
Revolutionary, off since a disappointing fifth-place finish in last year’s GI Belmont S. June 8, made his 4-year-old debut a winning one earlier on the card in a $100,000 optional claimer. Favored at 1-5 in a scratched down field of five, the dark bay sat off the pace after exiting a bit tardy from his rail draw. Ridden along through fractions of :23.78 and :46.41, he began to launch his bid from the outside entering the far turn, and came charging down the lane on the outside to reel in 2013 GIII Sam F. Davis S. hero Falling Sky (Lion Heart) by a half length to win with something left. Also trained by Pletcher, Revolutionary covered the mile distance in 1:35.07 and earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. The 2013 GII Louisiana Derby hero and GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher is being aimed at the prestigious GI Donn H. in Hallandale Feb. 9.
“We were real pleased with that effort,” Walden offered. “Anytime you have a seven-month layoff, you’re hoping that you have the same horse coming back that you had when you laid them off. To see him come back and finish strongly, I think it was a good race without it being a blinding effort that you worry about him going backwards over.”
Walden added, “I feel like it was a perfect scenario to move forward in the Donn.”
WinStar homebred Commissioner (A.P. Indy), meanwhile, a game winner over “TDN Rising Star” Top Billing (Curlin) in a loaded first-level $75,000 optional claimer going 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Jan. 3 (video), is a candidate for the GII Besilu Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 22. The 3-year-old half-brother to GIII Vigil S. hero and GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner-up Laugh Track (Distorted Humor) was making his first start since narrowly annexing a rare nine-furlong maiden special weight for juveniles at the Spa Aug. 28.
“I watched him train [Sunday] morning, and we’re very pleased with him,” Walden said. “He came out of the race in great shape. He’s got the ability to rate and is extremely versatile. It’s nice that he’s by A.P. Indy and obviously wants to go long, but he’s also a half-brother to an almost Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner. He’s a really nice horse and we’re very excited about his future as well.”