Buy TicketsHoist the Gold and Buchu Punch Breeders’ Cup Tickets with Grade 2 Victories
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Candied collared favored
V V’s Dream at the top of the stretch en route to a 1-length victory in the 72nd running of the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) for 2-year-old fillies to highlight opening day of Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet.
With the victory, Candied earned a fees-paid berth into the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
Also earning berths in the World Championships were Hoist the Gold and Buchu.
Dream Team One Racing Stable’s Hoist the Gold won the 171st running of the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) to earn a spot in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 4, and Rigney Racing’s Buchu captured the 33rd running of the $350,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November for 2-year-old fillies to secure a spot in the
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 3.
In the Darley Alcibiades, Candied provided trainer Todd Pletcher with his first victory in the race and gave jockey Luis Saez his second. Saez also won in 2020 aboard Simply Ravishing. Candied completed the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:44.17.
Candied raced in midpack in the eight-horse field as Alys Beach cut out fractions of :23.84 and :48.25 with Brightwork and V V’s Dream in closest pursuit. On the far turn, Alys Beach was confronted by Brightwork and V V’s Dream while Saez had Candied in high gear racing four wide.
Candied had the momentum at the top of the stretch, stuck her head in front of V V’s Dream and outdueled that rival to the wire.
Candied is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Roaring Fever mare Toni Tools. Now undefeated in two races, Candied banked $358,050 for the victory and increased her earnings to $415,800.
Candied returned $10.16, $4.58 and $3.38. V V’s Dream, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $2.86 and $2.60 and finished 5¾ lengths in front of Alys Beach, who paid $5.70 to show under Flavien Prat.
It was another head back to Shimmering Allure, who was followed in order by Brightwork, Crazy Cami, Alpine Princess and Wine On Tap.
Hoist the Gold gets perfect trip to win Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix
Dream Team One Racing Stable’s Hoist the Gold, receiving a dream trip from jockey John Velazquez, posted a three-quarters of a length victory over favored Nakatomi to win the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Hoist the Gold covered the 6 furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09.13. It is the first Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix victory for Stewart and Velazquez.
Doctor Oscar and Sibelius tore through opening fractions of :21.79 and :44.83 with Hoist the Gold tracking a couple of lengths behind the leaders along the rail. On the turn, Velazquez sent Hoist the Gold three wide after the leaders, hit the front at the three-sixteenths pole and held off all challengers.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Hoist the Gold is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Mineshaft out of the Tapit mare Tacit Approval. It is the first stakes victory for Hoist the Gold, whose career record is 24-4-6-3 with earnings of $804,547 after adding the winner’s share of $200,725.
Hoist the Gold returned payoffs of $14.04, $6.86 and $4.06. Nakatomi, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., paid $4.04 and $3.06 and finished a neck in front of Bango, who returned $2.80 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
It was another 2 lengths back to Necker Island, who was followed in order by Sibelius, Gulfstream Way, defending champion Manny Wah, Doctor Oscar, Top Gunner, Voodoo Zip and Baytown Bear.
Buchu romps to victory in Jessamine Presented by Keeneland November
Rigney Racing’s homebred Buchu rocketed past longtime leader Bella Haze at the eighth pole and drew off to post a 3 3/4-length victory in the Jessamine Presented by Keeneland November.
With the victory, Buchu earned a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Martin Garcia, Buchu completed the mile and a sixteenth over a turf course rated as good in 1:42.48 to give trainer Phil Bauer his first Keeneland stakes victory.
Bella Haze led the field of 11 through fractions of :22.84, :47.37 and 1:12.12 as Buchu raced at the rear of the field. Last going into the far turn, Garcia angled Buchu to the outside and was eight wide entering the stretch.
Buchu quickly made up ground, putting away Bella Haze at the eighth pole and drawing off for the victory.
A Keeneland sales graduate, Buchu is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Justify out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Flowering Peach (IRE). The victory was worth $200,725 and increased Buchu’s earnings to $294,955 with a record of 5-2-0-2.
Buchu returned $13.30, $7.06 and $5.46. Pharoah’s Wine, ridden by Martin Chuan, returned $11.58 and $9.04 and finished a nose in front of Crown Imperial, who paid $5.22 to show under Ricardo Santana Jr.
It was another neck back to Bella Haze, who was followed in order by Moonlight Gambler, Smooth Waves, Appellate, Abeyance, Time to Dazzle, favored Toupie and Asternia.