Morton Fink’s Successful Dan wore down Fort Larned in
deep stretch to win the ninth running of the $337,800 Alysheba Presented by
Besilu Stables (Grade II) by a length in track record time Friday afternoon at
Churchill Downs.
Successful Dan ran the 1 1/16 miles
on a fast main track in 1:41.04 to break the track record of 1:41.27
established by Brass Hat on July 8, 2007 and shattered the stakes record
of 1:42.32 established by Limehouse in 2005.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux and
trained by Charles Lopresti, Successful Dan won for the second time in
two 2012 starts following a layoff of 17 months because of injury.
A 6-year-old gelded son of
Successful Appeal out of the Wolf Power mare Lisa Danielle, Successful Dan was
making his first appearance at Churchill Downs since being disqualified from
victory in the 2010 Clark Handicap (GI).
Longshot Plutonium set the
pace, but was collared leaving the backstretch by Fort Larned under Javier
Castellano. At the head of the lane, Fort Larned turned back a bid from Mucho
Macho Man, the third-place finisher in last year’s Kentucky Derby, but could
not fend off Successful Dan
The victory was worth $203,153 and
increased Successful Dan’s career earnings to $596,608 with a record of
10-7-1-1.
Successful Dan returned $10.20, $5
and $3.20. Fort Larned returned $6.20 and $3.60 with Mucho Macho Man, finishing
six lengths back under Ramon Dominguez, returning $2.80 to show.
Completing the field in order were Golden
Yank, Apart, Nates Mineshaft, Colizeo and Plutonium.
ALYSHEBA
QUOTES
JULIEN LEPAROUX (Jockey, Successful
Dan, first) – “This is one of the best horses I’ve
ridden so far in my career [seven wins and a second in eight rides]. He’s a
beautiful horse and he has a great kick. I got him in a good place early and he
relaxed really nice. When I asked him to run he gave me a great run down the
stretch.”
CHARLIE LOPRESTI (Trainer,
Successful Dan, first) – "I
didn't know if he could duplicate his race at Keeneland (on April 6). This
field worried me, but this race shows me that he's come back as the horse he was.
You always worry when they come back from an injury like this. It's not so much
about the win, it's seeing him come back ok. He's a great horse. He's never
been beat at Churchill, he's never been beat at Keeneland. Wise Dan
(full brother) will go in the Stephen Foster. We'll take our time and find
another race for him. I'm definitely going to keep them apart for now."
JAVIER CASTELLANO (Jockey, Fort
Larned, second) – “He held on well all the way to
the end. He gave a great performance today. He gave me everything he had and I
was very pleased with him.”
IAN WILKES (Trainer, Fort Larned,
second) – “He’s getting better and better,
isn’t he? That darn Charlie Lopresti beat me again. I thought I had him this
time.”
KATHY RITVO (Trainer, Mucho Macho
Man, third) – “He tried hard and ran well, but he just didn’t get there
today.”
RAMON DOMINGUEZ (Jockey, Mucho Macho
Man, third) – “We had no problems. I tried hard. I had a great trip. He
just couldn’t get to those two horses.”