Life Is Good Rebuts Law Professor in Woodward
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta
Life Is Good wins the Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
A Breeders' Cup showdown is five weeks away, but the battle lines were set in mud Oct. 1 at a dank Aqueduct Racetrack.
After the undefeated Flightline turned in his final prep for the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with an awe-inspiring 19 1/4-length in the Sept. 3 TVG Pacific Classic (G1), Saturday's $465,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at the Big A provided his main nemesis, Life Is Good , with his opportunity to record one final start before moving on to Keeneland for the World Championships.
He didn't disappoint, though he did give his mutuel backers, who made him the 1-20 favorite, a late second-turn scare.
In a performance about 180 degrees removed from Flightline's blistering display of speed at Del Mar, CHC and WinStar Farm's $4 million earner Life Is Good cruised to a comfortable 1 1/4-length wet-track victory over a persistent Law Professor in a performance that should have him on edge when the matchup everyone wants to see, Flightline vs. Life Is Good, unfolds in next month's 1 1/4-mile Classic.
"It was comfortable. We wanted to win, but we didn't want to put on a show," said Elliott Walden, WinStar Farm's CEO, president, and racing manager. "It's on to the next one. It wasn't too hard of a race, and it should set him up for the next one."
And that next one should be a classic in more ways than one.
"I'm looking forward to it," Walden said about the matchup with Flightline and the rest of the top dirt horses in training, including Lukas Classic (G2) winner Hot Rod Charlie and the 3-year-olds Epicenter ,Taiba , and Rich Strike —most of whom seem likely to run.
The toteboard told the story of the Woodward, which has traditionally been run at Belmont Park. Against just three rivals after the scratch of Thomas Shelby , Life Is Good, a multiple grade 1-winning son of Into Mischief trained by Hall of Fame Todd Pletcher went off at minimum odds and led throughout.
Breaking from the rail, where there were some puddles of water on the sloppy, sealed track from 0.74 inches of rainfall, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. broke quickly with Life Is Good and moved out a couple of paths.
"He's quick out of there," Ortiz said. "There was not too much speed in the race and the first part of the race, there was a lot of water. We got a lot of rain. I wanted to get off the rail and was able to do it. He broke fast, and he stayed there (on the lead) the whole time."
Irad Ortiz Jr. enjoys his trip to the winner's circle aboard Life Is Good
The fractions were comfortable as the 4-year-old bred by Gary and Mary West reeled off splits of :24.40, and :48.60 with 34-1 Informative the closest pursuer.
"Part of his brilliance is being able to go fast and keep going," Pletcher said after the front-running Life Is Good turned in his slowest half-mile faction in 10 U.S. races. The bay colt posted a :46.84 opening half-mile in his previous start and win, the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. "It was the logical tactics for today, but I don't think it's his preferred running style. His real weapon is his high-cruising speed and the ability to keep going."
On the final turn, Twin Creek Racing Stables' Law Professor moved alongside Life Is Good to make matters interesting, but in the stretch under urging from Ortiz, the bay colt moved away from the 26-1 shot to open a clear lead of 1 1/2 lengths in mid-stretch and stayed on top while covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.57.
"Heading to the quarter-pole, I thought I had a big shot to win it. But then Life Is Good hit another gear," said Jose Ortiz, who rode Law Professor, a 4-year-old gelding.
The $2.10 winner turned in a :12.33 final furlong in crossing the wire.
Life Is Good heads for home in the Woodward
"It doesn't matter what the fractions are. He shows up. He's an incredible horse," Walden said.
Pletcher said Life Is Good will head to Keeneland Oct. 3 to begin preparations for the Breeders' Cup.
The victory was the ninth in 11 starts for Life Is Good and fourth grade 1, pushing his earnings to $4,361,700.
"He's a great horse with that long stride. It's a lot of fun to be here and watch him win a big race," said WinStar owner Kenny Troutt. "We'll see what happens in the Classic. We're real excited about it."
Law Professor, a homebred son of Constitution trained by Rob Atras, was second by 10 1/4 lengths over Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind , another Pletcher trainee. Informative was last of the four runners.
"Constitutions, you never take them lightly, and Law Professor ran the race of his life. It was a great race by him. Constitutions love the mud, so I figured he'd give (Life Is Good) a good run," said Walden, whose farm stands Constitution.
Life Is Good's connections accept the trophy for the Woodward Stakes
Life Is Good, originally trained by Bob Baffert before transferred to Pletcher last summer, is out of the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk . Purchased for $525,000 from the Paramount Sales consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he is her second foal and first stakes winner. Her three most recent foals include a 2-year-old filly Living Good by Blame , a yearling Candy Ride colt, and a full brother to Life Is Good born this year.