Favored Olympiad Wins New Orleans Classic
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Olympiad wins the New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds Race Course
On a day when the world's top older distance horses clashed in Dubai, back in Louisiana trainer Bill Mott showcased a horse who could emerge as a factor in the division as the summer months arrive.
Olympiad improved his record to a perfect 3-for-3 in 2022 while racing beyond 1 1/16 miles for the first time as he rolled to two-length victory over Proxy in the $485,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) March 26 at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots.
"We always thought he was a good 2-year-old, then unfortunately we had to stop for some minor issues and wait on him but the waiting has paid off," Mott said.
Owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods, the 4-year-old son of Speightstown has not lost since Mott first tested him around two turns in a Jan. 15 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park, which he won by 7 1/4 lengths.
Prior to that, he closed out his 3-year-old season with a strong but troubled finish in the Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) when he made his stakes debut in no less of a setting than a premier grade 1 stakes for milers. Despite clipping heels and dropping back from third to sixth, he still managed to finish fourth.
The New Orleans was contested at a 1 1/8-mile distance which Olympiad covered in a quick 1:47.74, just .10 off the track record.
"Today was a new test at 1 1/8 miles and you always wonder if they can pass the test, but he's answered all the questions," Mott said. "We won a grade 3 last time (the Mineshaft Stakes) and a grade 2 this time. We'd love to get a grade 1 in him. He's a very well bred horse; a beautiful horse. He should be a good stallion prospect once his racing career is over."
Bred by Emory A. Hamilton, Olympiad was bought by Solis/Litt for $700,000 from the Gainesway consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale. Out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Tokyo Time, he is the second of her five foals and lone stakes winner. Her most recent foals are a 2-year-old War Front filly bought for $450,000 by Larkin Armstrong from the Gainesway consignment at the Keeneland September Sale and a yearling American Pharoah colt.
A winner of 5 of 8 starts, Olympiad, a 3-5 favorite, paid $3.20 to win while boosting his earnings to $648,440.
Woodford Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, and Rock Ridge Racing's Promise Keeper set the early pace in the New Orleans with Olympiad second in the small field of six.
After six furlongs in 1:11.45, Olympiad and jockey Junior Alvarado powered past Promise Keeper to grab the lead turning for home. Godolphin's homebred Proxy rallied into contention from the outside but was unable to put much of a dent into the lead during the final furlong.
Proxy, a grade 2-placed son of Tapit trained by Michael Stidham, was second by 2 3/4 lengths over Promise Keeper, a 4-year-old grade 3-winning Constitution colt trained by Todd Pletcher.