Antiquarian withstood the late run of Sierra Leone to win the $1 million Grade 1 Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course in a race that noticed jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. knocked off his mount on distinguished contender Mindframe simply after the beginning in an incident that additionally impacted the possibilities of favourite Sierra Leone.
The complexion of the Jockey Membership Gold Cup modified within the opening strides as Phileas Fogg moved inward on the urging of jockey Kendrick Carmouche and induced a series response of bumps that resulted in Irad Ortiz Jr. being unseated from Mindframe, the sector’s second alternative.
Sierra Leone and Highland Falls, who have been the 1-2 finishers of Saratoga’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 2, discovered themselves additional behind than common as a result of incident firstly. Sierra Leone steadied to keep away from the fallen jockey and trailed behind the sector early. Sierra Leone rallied to complete second. Highland Falls ran on for fourth and was positioned third when Phileas Fogg was disqualified from third and positioned final. White Abarrio was positioned fourth.
Jockey John Velazquez piloted Antiquarian for the 4-year-old’s first Grade 1 win. Only a few hours earlier, Velazquez had returned from the other coast after successful the Grade 1 Pacific Basic at Del Mar with Fierceness the day earlier than.
Antiquarian received the Jockey Membership Gold Cup by 1 1/2 lengths from Sierra Leone in a last time for the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.16. Antiquarian paid $28.00 to win. Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher educated each Antiquarian and Mindframe.
“I’ve combined feelings. You hate to see something like that occur,” mentioned Pletcher, who added that Mindframe appeared fantastic when he was caught by the outriders. “It was good to have Antiquarian get his due.”
With the victory, Antiquarian earned a Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence “Win and You are In’ automated fees-paid berth to the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic at Del Mar Nov. 1.
Mindframe was corralled by outriders within the stretch. As for the scary incident firstly, Ortiz was taken to Albany Medical Heart complaining of wrist and rib ache.
“My concern was for Irad,” Mindframe’s half proprietor Mike Repole mentioned. “I could not even watch the race.”
Along with Mindframe, the possibilities of Sierra Leone have been additionally impacted by the difficulty after the beginning.
“I hope Irad is OK. That is my essential concern. Our horse is the one which went excessive of him and my concern is for him,” mentioned Sierra Leone’s coach Chad Brown. “So far as the race goes, we misplaced a substantial quantity of floor. (Jockey Flavien Prat) had to make use of him to attempt to re-gain the place he ought to have been and it actually performed a job within the end. That is horse racing and it is simply unlucky on a giant day, each for my horse, for Mindframe, who was poised for a giant effort, and most significantly for Irad, who we simply hope can escape from this with none accidents.”
