Newspaperofrecord Sharp off Layoff in Intercontinental
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Newspaperofrecord wins the Intercontinental Stakes at Belmont Park
Klaravich Stables' Newspaperofrecord shrugged off an 11-month layoff June 6 and returned to the winner's circle at Belmont Park with a four-length victory in the $100,000 Intercontinental Stakes (G3T).
The 4-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega topped a superfecta for Chad Brown, who also trains the fillies and mares who were second, third, and fourth in the 10-horse field.
"She is back. She ran brilliantly. I wanted to see her back in the winner's circle off a brilliant effort, and she did that," Brown said. "She was up on the pace a little stronger than I had anticipated, but it was a great effort. I hope she comes out of it well."
Newspaperofrecord had been away since a ninth-place finish in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) in July, her only finish outside the top two in seven starts. The bay filly returned to the work tab at Palm Meadows Training Center in January and turned in two half-mile breezes on Belmont's main track heading into Saturday's race. Brown is now eyeing a return to top-level company for her in the June 27 Just a Game Stakes (G1T) at Belmont.
The seven-furlong Intercontinental was her shortest race. Her shortest distance had been one mile, at which she won the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs.
Off as the 6-5 favorite under Irad Ortiz Jr., Newspaperofrecord showed speed early and ran past Jakarta for the lead. She set fractions of :22.39 and :45.38 through a half-mile on the Widener turf course, which had softened to yielding from rain showers moving through the area, and opened by 2 1/2 lengths.
"I wasn't looking to really let her rip off fractions like that, knowing I have to get her out to a mile next time and on short rest in the Just a Game," Brown said. "I have a little something to work with there, but she's a top-class horse and we'll let her tell us if she's ready to run back in that time frame. If so, it would be terrific. If she needs more time, we're always going to do right by her."
Brown-trained Regal Glory stalked the pace and was second chasing home Newspaperofrecord. She narrowed the pacesetter's lead to two lengths, but Newspaperofrecord opened back up.
The leader was four lengths clear with a final time of 1:22.71.
"She broke so sharp and was nice and quiet. She went fast, but she kept going," Ortiz said. "She liked it soft, too. She's 3-for-3 on the soft turf now, so I think she appreciates it.
"She was a little more relaxed than last year. Hopefully, she will keep improving."
Regal Glory was second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of stablemate Significant Form, who was another 2 3/4 lengths in front of Brown trainee Viadera in fourth.
Newspaperofrecord was bred in Ireland by Times of Wigan. She is out of the group 3-winning Holy Roman Emperor mare Sunday Times, making her a half sister to English stakes winner Classical Times and Daily Times, a winning juvenile last year for trainer John Gosden.
Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables purchased Newspaperofrecord for $278,019 from Goldford Stud's consignment to Book 1 of the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. From a 4-2-0 record in seven starts, the filly has earned $850,750.