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Ivar Romps to 14-1 Upset Victory in Shadwell Turf Mile to Highlight Five Graded Stakes on Saturday of Fall Stars Weekend
October 3, 2020Bonne Chance Farm and Stud RDI’s Ivar (BRZ) rocketed down the middle of the course to post a 1-length victory in the 35thrunning of the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) and earn a spot in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup FanDuel Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF here on Nov. 7.
Trained by Paulo Lobo and ridden by Joe Talamo, Ivar covered the mile on a turf course labeled firm in 1:33.99. It is the first Keeneland stakes victory for Lobo and Talamo. It is the first Grade 1 victory for Lobo since Pico Central (BRZ) won the Vosburgh in 2004.
Casa Creed led the field of nine through fractions of :23.44, :47.39 and 1:11.13 with Born Great, Parlor and Without Parole (GB) in closest pursuit while Ivar raced near the back of the pack.
Casa Creed maintained the lead at the top of the stretch while Talamo was guiding Ivar to the outside 4 lengths off the lead with only two horses beat. With clear running, Ivar swooped past the field with a blazing turn of foot and coasted home a length in front of a fast-closing Raging Bull (FR).
The victory was worth $450,000 and increased Ivar’s earnings to $579,413 with a record of 7-5-0-1 that includes two Group 1 wins in Argentina in 2019.
Ivar is a 4-year-old son of Agnes Gold (JPN) out of the Smart Strike mare May Be Now.
Ivar returned $30.80, $12.40 and $8.80. Raging Bull, ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $4.40 and $3.40 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of Without Parole, who paid $5.40 to show under Julien Leparoux.
It was another three-quarters of a length back to Casa Creed, who was followed in order by Flavius, Parlor, defending champion Bowies Hero, Analyze It and Born Great.
Uni (GB) becomes first repeat winner of First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare
Robert LaPenta, Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners and Bethlehem Stables’ Uni (GB) eased past stablemate Newspaperofrecord (IRE) at the sixteenth pole to become the first repeat winner of the $350,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare for fillies and mares.
With the victory, the Eclipse Award-winning grass mare of 2019 earned a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Maker’s Mile Filly and Mare Turf (G1) to be run here Nov. 7. Or she could also opt to defend her title in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup FanDuel Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF the same day.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Joel Rosario, Uni covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:34.90. For Brown, it is his third consecutive victory in the First Lady and fourth overall. In addition to Uni, he won with Dayatthespa in 2014 and A Raving Beauty (GER) in 2018.
Longshot Crystal Lake gunned for the early advantage and led the field of five through fractions of :23.89 and :47.92 with Newspaperofrecord and Uni tracking in second and third. At the head of the stretch, the Brown duo attacked the leader and quickly took over with Newspaperofrecord holding the advantage.
Uni finally pushed past Newspaperofrecord at the sixteenth pole and had more than enough left to hold off Beau Recall (IRE), who got up for second.
With her fourth Grade 1 victory, Uni added $210,000 to her career earnings and hike that total to $2,590,880 with a record of 21-11-3-4.
Uni is 6-year-old daughter of More Than Ready out of the Dansili (GB) mare Unaided (GB).
Uni returned $6.80, $3.60 and $2.20. Beau Recall rallied to finish second under Julien Leparoux and pay $3.80 and $2.20 with Newspaperofrecord finishing a nose back in third under Tyler Gaffalione and paying $2.10 to show.
It was another 4 lengths back to Dalika (GER) with Crystal Lake finishing fifth.
Essential Quality cruises to victory in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity
Godolphin’s homebred Essential Quality moved to the lead on the far turn and then drew off to win the 107th running of the $400,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds by 3¼ lengths over Keepmeinmind.
The victory secured the undefeated Essential Quality a fees-paid berth into the $2 million TVG Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Saez, Essential Quality covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:44.37. For Godolphin, it is the second consecutive victory in the race coming on the heels of Maxfield’s triumph in 2019.
Upstriker set the pace with Essential Quality lapped to his outside through fractions of :23.97, :48.86 and 1:13.40. Midway on the far turn, Essential Quality put his head in front and quickly established a daylight advantage and was never threatened in the run to the finish.
A winner in his debut at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day Sept. 5, Essential Quality added $240,000 to his bankroll for earnings of $295,144.
Essential Quality is a Kentucky-bred son of Tapit out of the Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality.
Sent off as the favorite, Essential Quality paid $5.80, $4.20 and $3.20. Keepmeinmind, ridden by David Cohen, returned $27 and $9 and finished 1½ lengths in front of Super Stock, who paid $5.40 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
It was another 4½ lengths back to Upstriker, who was followed in order by Founder, Dixie’s Two Scents and Calibrate, who finished in a dead heat for sixth, King Fury and Notary.
Inthemidstofbiz scores 13-1 upset in Thoroughbred Club of America
Trainer Cipriano Contreras and Andrew Knapczyk’s Inthemidstofbiz put away early leader Lady’s Island at the head of the stretch and then drew off to win the 40thrunning of the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for fillies and mares by 3 lengths over Sneaking Out.
With the victory, Inthemidstofbiz earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run here Nov. 7.
Ridden by Martin Garcia, Inthemidstofbiz covered 6 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.84. 
Lady’s Island set the pace with fractions of :22.12 and :45.17 with Inthemidstofbiz tracking to her outside. Turning into the stretch, Inthemidstofbiz shot to the front, turned back a brief challenge from Palace Avenger and cruised to the victory.
Claimed for $20,000 here last fall, Inthemidstofbiz is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Fed Biz out of the Closing Argument mare Midst. The $120,000 winner’s share increased her earnings to $297,121 with a record of 13-6-2-1.
Inthemidstofbiz paid $28.20, $8.80 and $4.20. Sneaking Out, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, returned $3.40 and $2.40 and finished a half-length in front of Palace Avenger who paid $3.20 to show under Luis Saez.
It was another 2 lengths back to Dos Vinos, who was followed in order by On Probation, Lady’s Island and Divine Queen.
Leinster holds off Extravagant Kid to win Woodford Presented by TVG
Amy Dunne, Brenda Miley, Westrock Stables and Jean Wilkinson’s Leinster took command at the eighth pole and then fended off a late bid from Extravagant Kid by a half-length to win the 24th running of the $150,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG for 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Rusty Arnold and ridden by Luis Saez, Leinster covered the 5½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:01.59.
Just Might led the field of nine through an opening quarter in :21.90 with Leinster racing second. Leaving the far turn, Leinster closed the gap on the leader and by midstretch had taken charge en route to his third graded stakes victory.
The victory was worth $90,000 and improved Leinster’s bankroll to $614,211 with a 22-5-6-4 record.
The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Majestic Warrior out of the Royal Academy mare Vassar was second in the Woodford last year, his only setback in four starts on the Keeneland turf course.
In his previous start, Leinster won the Shakertown (G2) and with Saturday’s victory joins Havelock (2013) and Silver Timber (2010) as the only horses to win the Shakertown and Woodford in the same year.
Sent off as the favorite, Leinster paid $7.80, $4.20 and $3. Extravagant Kid, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $4.60 and $3.20 and finished three-quarters of a length in front of Just Might who paid $4.80 to show under Colby Hernandez.
It was another half-length back to Chaos Theory, who was followed in order by Fast Boat, Chaps, Real News, Citrus Burst and Win Lion Win.
Racing continues Sunday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET that features three stakes headlined by the $400,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares trying to earn a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) here Nov. 7.
There is a Pick Six (races 5-10) carryover of $45,547 going into Sunday racing.