The only time five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm won the Kentucky Jockey Club with Super Saver,
they won the Kentucky Derby the following spring. They hope to duplicate that feat again May 5 after their colt Gemologist wore down favorite 8-5 favorite Ever So Lucky in deep stretch to win the 85th running of
the $178,200 Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) for 2-year-olds by 1 ¾ lengths on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Ridden by Javier Castellano, Gemologist broke alertly and sat behind the pacesetter Ever So Lucky and 43-1 outsider Seve
as the former led the field of 11 through fractions of :23.98, :47.49
and 1:12.62.
On the far turn, Castellano dropped his hands and Gemologist raced
three-wide to draw even with Ever So Lucky at the head of the long
Churchill Downs stretch. The two matched strides to the sixteenth pole
before Gemologist inched clear late for the victory
in 1:44.46 for 1 1/16 miles over a “fast” track.
Timely Tally rallied late from the back of the pack to finish another neck back in third, a half-length in front of Optimizer. Atigun, Africanist, Cyber Secret, Saint Honore,
Seve, Fine and Mr. Prankster completed the order of finish.
Gemologist, a Kentucky-bred
son of 2001 Horse of the Year Tiznow out of the Mr. Prospector mare
Crystal Shard, grabbed the $103,855 first prize and jumped his career
earnings to $145,855. The bay colt is unbeaten in
three starts. He broke his maiden by five lengths on Polytrack at
Turfway Park in September and won a first-level allowance/optional
claiming event at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30 by two lengths.
Sent to post as the 3-1 second betting choice, Gemologist returned $8.60, $4 and $3.60. Ever So Lucky, piloted by Julien Leparoux, paid $3.60 and $3. Timely Tally, with Calvin Borel aboard, returned $4.20.
Five Kentucky Jockey Club winners won the Kentucky Derby the following spring: Reigh Count (1928), Clyde Van Dusen (1929), Twenty Grand (1931) Cannonade (1974) and Super Saver (2010).
The 138th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands will be run in 23 weeks on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB QUOTES
Todd Pletcher (by telephone from New York), trainer of Gemologist (winner): “He ran well. He overcame an outside post, got a good trip and dug in when it counted.”
Q: Do you feel that two-turn race at Churchill Downs was an advantage? “I think it certainly helped to have a race over the track and to have that two-turn experience around there. It always helps when you have some confidence that they’ve handled the surface already.”
Q: Did Gemologist identify himself early as one that might be special? “He came to us during the Saratoga meet and each one of his works was progressively better. For a big horse that’s bred to go longer, he showed some natural speed. He’s just one of those horses that every time you breezed him he did everything right and just kind of kept getting better and better.”
Q: The last time you won this race with Super Saver in 2009 it worked out well for you the following spring in the Derby. Will you take a similar path in hopes of getting back to the Derby with Gemologist? “We’ll give him a little bit of a break off that and I’ll get with Elliott (WinStar President/CEO and Racing Manager Elliott Walden) and we’ll come up with a game plan. I’d say we’d try to follow a similar path, hopefully two starts before the big race if things go well.”
Q: You’ve won so many great races and trained so many nice horses. But when you have one like this that seems to have so much potential for next year, is it anything extra for you to win a race like this with a horse like this? “It’s always exciting when you have a good two-year-old turning three. It kind of gives you something to look forward to when you head south for the winter. We’re always hoping to be back at Churchill in the spring.”
Kenny Troutt, owner of WinStar Farm LLC, owner of Gemologist (winner):
“What I saw in there was a horse get a lot of learning experience and
still win a race. He had a little problem in the starting gate, but he
broke
well and relaxed. He went wide, but still won and looked like a very
nice horse coming down the lane.”
Elliot Walden, President/CEO and Racing Manager of WinStar Farm LLC, owner of Gemologist (winner):
“He (Gemologist) beat a very good field and a very good horse in the
Indian Charlie colt (Ever So Lucky). He’ll get
a little bit of a breather and then we’ll regroup and see where we go. I
don’t know if he’ll come back to WinStar Farm (for the winter). We’ll
have to figure that out.”
Mike McCarthy, assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher, trainer of Gemologist (winner):
“The horse ran well. He ran like he trained. The race kind of unfolded
like we thought it would. We thought (jockey) Julien (Leparoux)’s
horse (Ever So Lucky) would go ahead and go (to the lead) coming off a
short rest. It was a very professional effort from him (Gemologist)
today.”
Javier Castellano, jockey on Gemologist (winner):
“We had a beautiful trip. It was a dream trip. He’s a really nice
horse. Today he was very professional. He sat behind the leaders and
targeted the speed. He responded
when I asked him. He did it the right way today. I’m very lucky to ride
nice horses like him.”
Q. What happened in the gate before the race? “I think he just got a little anxious and he was ready to go. He reared up and hit the gate with his legs, but thank God he didn’t hit his head. He was very lucky.”
Jonathan Sheppard, trainer of Ever So Happy (runner-up): “We’re
very happy. He ran very well. He’s still just a little bit green. He
put up a good fight when that horse came to him and we were quite proud
of him.”
Q: He’s shown a lot in a short time … “Exactly. The other horse has had two races, we’ve had one. I’m not sure how much difference that makes, but probably some I would think.”
Q: So you’re thinking about next spring and possibly the Kentucky Derby with this horse? “We’ll let him tell us. It would be fun to do if he looks like he wants to go that way. We’ll take him home and check him out and see.”
Julien Leparoux, jockey of Ever So Lucky (runner-up): “He
ran big. He had that win going 6 ½ (furlongs) and it’s not easy to just
come and run as good as he did. He’s a nice horse and we’re looking
forward to next year
with that one.”
Ian Wilkes, trainer of Timely Tally (third): Q: Calvin Borel said he was stopped on the far turn, but was thrilled with the way Timely Tally finished. Your thoughts? “That’s
racing. We didn’t have the racing
luck there. He was still last at the quarter pole and then he circles
them at the quarter pole and gets beat by two lengths. I wouldn’t want
to trade places with anyone going forward off this race. I just feel my
horse is getting better. He’s improving with
racing. And you know he likes the track here, so that’s a good sign.”
Q: Did you see the traffic problems he encountered on the far turn? “It
was just that a hole never opened up. You know how Calvin (jockey
Calvin Borel) loves the fence, but it just never opened up.
If he had moved him 50 or 100 yards earlier, we’re the winner. But
that’s hindsight. That’s part of the game. But otherwise, I was so
happy. That was his first stakes race and the horse is just getting
better and better. I’ve got to congratulate WinStar Farm.
Their horse ran his race and he was the winner, but I do think my horse
is improving.”
Calvin Borel, rider of Timely Tally (third): “He
ran super. I got dead stopped on the turn, but he really came running.
I’ve really liked this horse in his last two races and he’s just getting
better. He’s just improving
and I’m really looking forward to moving ahead with him. He ran very
well and it’s really exciting to be around a horse like this.”
