Lonhro Colt Becomes Sire’s First U.S. Graded Stakes Winner

Isotherm showed some interest before settling for fourth in his main-track debut at Saratoga Aug. 1, and earned his diploma by a game neck when stretched out on the grass at that venue Aug. 22. Finding himself much farther back this time to sit in third-last, the striking dark bay advanced from the two path along the far turn as the pace quickened. Taken very wide for clear sailing at the top of the stretch, he mowed them all down in an exciting stretch run that could have gone a number of ways. GII With Anticipation S. winner Azar grabbed second, while British import Ray’s the Bar settled for third with some traffic trouble down on the inside. Fourth-place finisher Highland Sky (Sky Mesa), who was moving right with Isotherm, was also forced to steady sharply in the lane.

“He broke very good and he was in a good position the whole way,” said rider Jose Lezcano of the winner’s trip. “At the half mile pole, everybody started to move a little bit and the pace started to quicken, so I had to move with the group. After that I got cut out, but this is a very talented horse. He does everything easy. When everyone started moving, I had some pressure and was a little out of it, but he still did everything right. He’s a very nice horse. The last time I rode him, he was a little bit lugging on the bit, but this time he was very relaxed and after this race, I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a very nice and talented colt.”

Isotherm becomes the first stakes and graded stakes winner in the U.S. for his sire (by Lonhro {Aus}), whose first North American-sired runners are juveniles. Australia’s 2004 Racehorse of the Year and 2011 leading sire stood at Darley’s Jonabell Farm from 2012-2014. He currently resides at Darley Kelvinside.

Isotherm is the first foal to race out of MSP Game for More. He has a yearling full-sister (who sold for $95,000 at Keeneland September to Equix’s Brendan Heeney) and a weanling half-sister by Gio Ponti. Game for More was bred back to To Honor and Serve.

“We bought him in the Keeneland September sale last year,” noted owner Matthew Schera of Isotherm. “We all loved him. Everyone can see he’s one of the prettier horses around. I kept telling everyone that he trains better than he ran last time, but he still won, so we kind of expected something more today and it looks like he came out and he did it. We even think he likes the dirt too, so we’ll see down the road for that. As long as he comes out good and he’s healthy, we’ll go to Keeneland for the [Oct. 30 GI] Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.”

Saturday, Belmont Park
PILGRIM S.-GIII, $200,000, BEL, 9-26, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.98, fm.
1–#@ISOTHERM, 118, c, 2, by Lonhro (Aus)
1st Dam: Game for More (MSP, $153,330), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Ermelinda, by Sea Hero
3rd Dam: Future of Gold, by Fountain of Gold
($120,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP). O-Matthew Schera; B-H Allen Poindexter (KY); T-George Weaver; J-Jose Lezcano. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $173,950. *First North American GSW for sire (by Octagonal {NZ}). Werk Nick Rating: 1st SW for this Cross. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. [bullet ad=”ghost-bloodstock-purchased-by-jake-ballis-brendan-heeney-for-matt-schera”][bullet ad=”paramount-congrats”][bullet ad=”lynwood-stable-broke”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″] 2–Azar, 122, c, 2, Scat Daddy–Miss Ocean City, by Mineshaft. ($300,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP). O-Alto Racing LLC; B-Mike Connelly (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $40,000.
3–Ray’s the Bar (GB), 118, c, 2, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Cosmic Fire (Fr), by Dalakhani (Ire). (€42,000 Ylg ’14 GOFSPT; 37,000gns 2yo ’15 TATBRE). O-Head of Plains Partners LLC, Vintage Thoroughbreds LLC et al; B-Niarchos Family (GB); T-Chad C Brown. $20,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”] Margins: NK, NK, 3/4. Odds: 9.60, 5.90, 3.10.
Also Ran: Highland Sky, Brass Compass, Dissident, Forever in Love, Pagan, Eidmilaad, Next Shares.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.