Since 2010, three sophomores had managed to defeat older sprinters in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S., including the 2015 winner Runhappy (Super Saver), who came into the race off a victory in the GI King's Bishop S. and who used the Phoenix as a steppingstone to an impressive score in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint over the same course and trip. Sent off at 70 cents on the dollar and exiting a game tally in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S., Robert Baron's Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) earned himself a dues-paid berth into this year's Sprint with a determined defeat of defending champion Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) Friday afternoon.
Ridden for speed from the inside stall, the $37,000 Keeneland September graduate was quickly in front, but soon had company in the form of longshot Heartwood (Tapit). Whitmore drafted in behind the top two, while Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal) dropped out to the tail, albeit not too far in arrears. Promises Fulfilled carried a narrow lead into the lane after a half-mile in :45.09, and while he put away Heartwood in upper stretch, Whitmore popped out to emerge a fresh challenge. Promises Fulfilled looked in deep water entering the final eighth of a mile, but he called on his class and would not allow Whitmore to get past. Jose Ortiz aboard Limousine Liberal looked to be contemplating a rails run inside of the chalk in upper stretch, but he abandoned that plan and was subsequently short of room when trying to split the eventual top two inside the furlong marker. Still full of run, he dove back down to the inside, but too late, and was forced to settle for third for a second consecutive year.
Promises Fulfilled is not nominated to the Breeders' Cup, but trainer Dale Romans believes that will happen now, even as his Breeders' Cup destination remains an open question.
“We still have to pay the supplement–he wasn't nominated. But that went a long way to putting us in today,” said the conditioner. “Now we have to decide what's the best place to put him, the [GI Dirt] Mile or the [GI] Sprint.
“We've got a little time to think about it, talk about it. I don't think he's restricted to going three-quarters of a mile. I think he'll be good at any distance. We'll talk about it. We're just happy to get this big win. This is a good enough win in its own right. Not worrying about the next one yet.”
Click here for a TDN feature on winning owner Robert Baron.
Pedigree Notes:
Promises Fulfilled is one of four graded winners for his Darby Dan-based sire and is kin to an unraced 2-year-old filly named Big Time Delivery (Gemologist) and a yearling half-brother by Tiznow who was a $100,000 Fasig-Tipton November weanling. Dam Marquee Delivery, who was graded stakes-placed on both synthetic and dirt, was bred back to Shackleford this season.
Friday, Keeneland
STOLL KEENON OGDEN PHOENIX S.-GII, $245,000, Keeneland, 10-5, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.05, ft.
1–PROMISES FULFILLED, 122, c, 3, by Shackleford
1st Dam: Marquee Delivery (MGSP, $264,901), by Marquetry
2nd Dam: Fast Delivery, by Little Missouri
3rd Dam: Copelan's Girl, by Copelan
($37,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Robert J. Baron; B-David Jacobs
(KY); T-Dale L. Romans; J-Luis Saez. $150,000. Lifetime Record:
GISW, 10-6-0-2, $920,280. *1/2 to Marquee Miss (Cowboy
Cal), MSW & GSP, $371,608; and Marquee Cal Gal (Cowboy
Cal), MSP, $249,209. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”][bullet ad=”lanes-end-keenov-hip-475″][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Whitmore, 124, g, 5, Pleasantly Perfect–Melody's Spirit, by
Scat Daddy. O-Robert V. LaPenta, Southern Springs Stables and
Head of Plains Partners LLC; B-John Liviakis (KY); T-Ron
Moquett. $50,000.[bullet ad=”war-horse-place-born-raised”]3–Limousine Liberal, 122, g, 6, Successful Appeal–Gift of Gab,
by In Excess (Ire). O-Katherine G. Ball; B-Mike & Katherine Ball
(KY); T-Ben Colebrook. $25,000.
Margins: HD, HF, 3. Odds: 0.70, 2.50, 2.50.
Also Ran: Heartwood, Dalmore. Scratched: Distinctive B. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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