Ivar Steals Shadwell Turf Mile

Ivar, a dual group 1 winner in his native Argentina last year, now has a top-tier victory in the United States to join his list of accomplishments.

The 4-year-old Agnes Gold colt captured the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) over grade 1 winners Raging Bull and Without Parole Oct. 3 at Keeneland. His victory in the "Win and You're In" qualifier secured him an automatic, paid berth into the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at the Lexington oval Nov. 7.

Though Ivar surprised bettors at 14-1 odds Saturday, that was a reflection on the quality of the field more so than a thin résumé on his part. After rebounding from a fifth-place finish in his U.S. debut May 21, he won an allowance-level race by two lengths at Churchill Downs June 18 before pushing a fast pace and settling for third in the Tourist Mile Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 7.

In the latter race, he was overly aggressive early, pushing a demanding pace that compromised his finish. So trainer Paulo Lobo removed blinkers for the Shadwell Turf Mile, an equipment adjustment that proved a game-changer.

He was far more relaxed Saturday, running in seventh for the first three-quarters of the race as longshot Casa Creed set the pace with fractions of :23.44, :47.39, and 1:11.13 before Ivar was turned loose by jockey Joe Talamo over the final quarter-mile. 

"I was all smiles turning for home," Talamo said.

Just as his rider expected, the horse was full of run. He engulfed the leaders and surged to a length victory over a hard-charging Raging Bull. The latter closed to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of show finisher Without Parole.

Ivar ($30.80) raced a mile on firm turf in 1:33.99, almost a second faster than champion Uni's time of 1:34.90 in winning the First Lady Stakes Presented by UK Healthcare (G1T) at the same distance two races earlier.

According to Trakus, he finished his final quarter-mile in 22.39. 

His upset set off a celebration from the Lexington-based Lobo, who notched his first top-level victory since Pico Central won the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in 2004, one of three grade 1s the horse took that year. The trainer first burst into U.S. prominence when Farda Amiga won the 2002 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs.

"You know how hard it is to win a grade 1, especially here at Keeneland," he said.

Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I own the colt, who picked up first prize of $450,000, the richest payday of his career. He is now a winner of five of seven starts.  

Lobo said he was concerned before the race by how his colt might fare from the outside post with a short run to the first of two turns. The scratches of Halladay and Spectacular Gem lessened that disadvantage, resulting in him moving in from post 11 to post 9. 

He praised Talamo's ride, calling it "100% magnificent."

Ivar wasn't the only horse to run well after having blinkers removed. Raging Bull, who also shed the equipment, rebounded from a fifth-place finish in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) to pass all but the winner in his finest effort since he took the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park May 25.

"I was by myself in the clear in the back, and he made his move nice. I thought for a second that we were going to get there, but the winner was too good," said his jockey, Joel Rosario.

Chad Brown trains Raging Bull, as he does Without Parole, whom he began conditioning last year after the horse made his first nine starts overseas for trainer John Gosden. Without Parole was third in the Breeders' Cup Mile last fall in his first start for the trainer.

Brown's other starters in the Shadwell Turf Mile, Flavius and favored Analyze It, ran fifth and eighth, respectively.

Bred in Brazil by Stud Rio Dois Irmaos, Ivar is out of the group 2-winning Smart Strike mare May Be Now. All four of her foals to race are winners, led by Ivar, her lone stakes winner. The dam is a half to Al's Gal, the winner of the 2016 E. P. Taylor Stakes Presented by HPIBet (G1T) at Woodbine.

Video: Shadwell Turf Mile S. (G1T)