Annapolis Sets Sail for BC Mile With Turf Mile Victory

New York-based trainer Todd Pletcher wasn't at Keeneland Oct. 8, but the Hall of Famer's impact on a pair of back-to-back grade 1 races late in the afternoon was unmistakable.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte  first scored a neck victory in the $600,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1), surviving an inquiry to prevail, and then Bass Racing's 3-year-old Annapolis  prevailed against older horses in the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T). Both races served as Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifiers, earning the winners paid, automatic entry into separate Breeders' Cup races Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland.

"Not a bad hour," Pletcher quipped in a telephone interview.

"You never take for granted these grade 1 opportunities, and to be able to do it with these two horses, with these two clients—it was a huge day for the whole team," he added. "I can't say enough about the work that everyone has done to get us there."

The horses, too, put on a show. Forte scored in his two-turn debut, and Annapolis ran a mile on a firm course that played quickly under Irad Ortiz Jr. in a stakes-record 1:33.29. The War Front   colt improved to 5-for-7 with Saturday's victory, increasing his earnings to $1,166,100. He paid $14.70 to win.

Should all go well, he could add to that bankroll next in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) Nov. 5 at the Lexington oval. Annapolis missed the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) last year when in need of surgery to have chips removed from a hind ankle.

EHALT: Ankle Chips Knock Annapolis Out of BC Juvenile Turf

Third early in Saturday's race, sitting right behind the speed in a good position, Annapolis took command after tipping out in the stretch and drew clear by 1 1/2 lengths over Ivar , the 2020 Turf Mile winner.

"He was moving so good. I thought he was a winner turning for home, but hats off to the winner, he fought really nice.," said Ivar's jockey, Joe Talamo. "He's fun to ride every single time. He always puts in a good run in that last part. His form always holds up really well. (Trainer) Paulo (Lobo) keeps him in great condition every time he runs."

Ivar nosed out Aidan O'Brien's European invader Order of Australia , who showed, a neck in front of late-running Set Piece  in fourth.

Speaking of Order of Australia, "He missed the jump," jockey Christophe Soumillion said. 

Pacesetting Masen , who carved out fractions of :23.58, :46.60, and 1:10.01, weakened to sixth. Favored Satin  turned in a lackluster performance, finishing ninth.

Pletcher won the Coolmore Turf Mile for the second time after first capturing it in 2005 with Host  when the race was sponsored by Shadwell.

He wasn't the only one rightfully proud of Annapolis. So, too, was owner Perry Bass of Bass Racing. The Bass family also bred Annapolis as Bass Stables.

"This is the pinnacle," he said following the winner's circle ceremony, his eyes moist and his voice quivering. "To breed one and win and to win a race like this—it's the epitome."

Ortiz, asked about teaming up with Pletcher, who has become one of the leading supporters in recent years, Ortiz called it "awesome" to have success with the trainer's high-powered stable.

"I've been riding for him the whole year, win some grade 1s for him before, too," Ortiz said. "I love to win a grade 1 for anybody. I love to win for any trainer. I'm happy for him, his barn. Teamwork worked out at the end of the day. Those guys (backstretch staff) work so hard in the mornings—grooms, hotwalkers, everybody."

Ortiz noted it "very impressive" for Annapolis to defeat older rivals in the Turf Mile.

"It's not easy to win against these horses," he said. "We had Santin, we had Masen, we had so many good horses in this race, the O'Brien horse (Order of Australia). He's only a 3-year-old, but he's doing so good right now. I think he has ability. He's a nice horse."

Bass said he is hopeful that Annapolis can continue to catch firm ground. Turf courses in Kentucky typically take on more moisture later in the fall with more rainfall and decreasing temperatures.

Bred in Kentucky, Annapolis is the second foal out of the grade 2 winner and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up My Miss Sophia . The mare, a daughter of Unbridled's Song, has also produced the stakes-placed runner Nevisian Suprise and a yearling colt, both of whom are full siblings to Annapolis.

"We have our mares at Claiborne (Farm), and we love going out and seeing our babies and seeing them in the field," Bass said. "It adds a whole other dimension than if you just bought them as a yearling... I have pictures on my phone from like the day after he was born. It's just another layer to it that makes you proud."

Video: Coolmore Turf Mile S. (G1T)