Shanghai Bobby strikes a 5/5 after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Taking flight right to the top of the 2013 Kentucky Derby contenders list is the Todd Pletcher trained, Shanghai Bobby. This honour he reserved for himself by winning the $1,818,000, Grade 1, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita over 1 1/16-mile on 3rd November. Along with being the favourite for one of the legs of the Triple Crown, Harlan’s Holiday’s two-year-old colt kept his unbeaten record intact.
The pace-setter for the race turned out to be, Title Contender, even though Shanghai Bobby snapped into lead right after leaving the stall with jockey, Rosie Napravnik, onboard. Even though He’s Had Enough was quick to pull up to challenge the dark colt on the outside, Rosie kept saving ground by the rail with utmost resilience.
The only issue with the Kentucky bred by, Stonehaven Steadings, is the easy and relaxed pace he gets into once the rivals have been taken over. He gets charged into speed only when the opponent is reeling in right in sight.
He’s Had Enough’s threatening presence on the outside alarmed Shanghai Booby who slipped through the wire to safeguard his chances, and timed the track distance in 1:44 2/5.
"We were in a great spot. As a matter of fact, down the backside, I was having déjà vu of the (Grade 1) Kentucky Oaks (win aboard Believe You Can) and being in that golden spot," said Napravnik.
"He was nose and nose with me," Napravnik said of He's Had Enough. "I was looking forward mostly because I knew they were coming and once Bobby saw them that he would kick into gear and he re-breaks so sharply. It's an unbelievable feeling."
The proud trainer commented:
"That was our strategy, to be aggressive, the way the track was playing," Pletcher admitted. "We didn't want to get shuffled back.”
The colt out of, Steelin’ by, Orientate, made his regular rider, Rosie Napravnik, the second only female jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race. The first female jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race was, Julie Krone.
The two won the Grade II Hopeful Stakes on 3rd September, 2012 at Saratoga over seven furlongs. Their team then went on to accumulating more graded successes with Grade 1 Champagne being the second winning destination.
The dark colt has made for his connections more than the $105,000 that he was bought for as a Keeneland September yearling. He is jointly owned by, Mrs. John ‘Susan’ Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael B. Tabor and Starlight Racing.
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