Seabhac, still in search of his first victory while trying graded company for the second straight time, rewarded his connections' confidence with a breakthrough tally. A close second from far back on debut at Saratoga Aug. 5, the dark bay returned 25 days later in the GIII With Anticipation S. and checked in fourth after running into significant traffic trouble turning for home before re-rallying resolutely. He was flattered when the third-place finisher from that heat, 'TDN Rising Star' Untamed Domain (Animal Kingdom), returned to annex Woodbine's GII Summer S. Sept. 17.
Away well with first-time blinkers, Seabhac moved through horses to sit in a well-held second as expected pacesetter Looking Ready (More Than Ready) showed the way through splits of :24.61, :49.51 and 1:13.77. Asked to go in upper stretch, Seabhac wore down the frontrunner in midstretch and kept finding late under energetic encouragement to hold off the fast-finishing Voting Control with Seabhac's stablemate Maraud not far back in third.
“It was just a good trip,” said winning rider Luis Saez. “It was pretty exciting. He broke pretty good. He was right there, and when I asked him at the three-eighths, he just took off. When he came into the stretch he was running. I can't wait to ride him next time.”
Added trainer Todd Pletcher, “I think blinkers and experience, a combination of those things, helped. He ran good races both times at Saratoga. He just encountered a little bit of traffic, especially in his first start. He seems like a talented colt who is still figuring it out.”
John Velazquez had ridden Seabhac in his first two starts, but ended up on Maraud this time.
“To be honest, the original plan was to go to Keeneland [with Seabhac], so I had Johnny committed to the other horse already, so we started investigating races at Keeneland but we didn't think we could get in because he was still a maiden,” Pletcher explained. “I felt bad for Johnny because he had ridden the horse twice, and… it was his idea to put the blinkers on him. It's just one of those things.”
Pedigree Notes:
Seabhac is the first foal out of Curlin Hawk, a half-sister to champion and three-time Grade I winner Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet). A $500,000 KEESEP yearling, Curlin Hawk was $210,000 KEENOV '13 acquisition by Borges Torrealba Holdings. She produced a Super Saver filly in 2016 and a Strong Mandate colt this year before being bred back to Malibu Moon.
Saturday, Belmont Park
PILGRIM S.-GIII, $200,000, BEL, 9-30, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.48, fm.
1–#@SEABHAC, 116, c, 2, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Curlin Hawk, by Curlin
2nd Dam: Maggy Hawk, by Hawkster
3rd Dam: Qualique, by Hawaii
($170,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Donegal Racing; B-Three
Chimneys Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Luis Saez. $120,000.
Lifetime Record: 3-1-1-0, $144,100. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”performance-genetics-selection”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”thorostride-new”]
2–Voting Control, 118, c, 2, Kitten's Joy–Manda Bay, by Empire
Maker. ($85,000 Ylg '16 OBSAUG). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.;
B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.
$40,000.[bullet ad=”de-meric-de-meric-stables-purchase-and-graduate”][bullet ad=”stuart-morris-yearling-graduate”][bullet ad=”eqb-cardioclient”]
3–Maraud, 118, c, 2, Blame–Unbridled Empire, by Empire
Maker. ($100,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP; $375,000 2yo '17 EASMAY).
O-Treadway Racing Stable; B-John R. & Frank Penn (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $20,000.[bullet ad=”eqb-equine-analysis”][bullet ad=”crupi-trained”]
Margins: HF, NK, 2 1/4. Odds: 5.40, 1.35, 2.20.
Also Ran: Looking Ready, Morrison, Stolen Pistol, Evaluator, Desert Stone (Ire). 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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