Chez Pierre Conquers Modern Games in Maker's Mark Mile
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Chez Pierre wins the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland
Modern Games entered the April 14 Maker's Maker Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland with the loftiest reputation, having previously won three grade 1s in North America, but it was Chez Pierre who delivered in stakes-record time in the $518,575 turf race.
After sparring with Dr Zempf early through early fractions of :23.67, :47.66, and 1:10.80, the talented 5-year-old Mehmas gelding spurted away in the stretch, defeating dual Breeders' Cup winner and 2-5 favorite Modern Games by 3 1/2 lengths. Though the latter tried to catch up after racing in fourth early, he was unable to reel in the winner, who raced his final quarter-mile in a sparkling :22.66.
Watch the full replay as CHEZ PIERRE (FR) flies to the win in the @MakersMark Mile (G1) today at 9-1 odds, setting the stakes record! pic.twitter.com/L4LLJH9yGe
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 14, 2023
Chez Pierre stopped the clock for a mile on firm turf in 1:33.46, faster than 33 runnings at the distance and earning a 119 Equibase Speed Figure. His time was just .59 of a second off Uni 's course record at Keeneland, set in 2019.
The previous Maker's Mark Mile record time was 1:33.54, established in 2004 by Perfect Soul .
Winning jockey Flavien Prat said his mount was "traveling much better" once he eased Chez Pierre off Dr Zempf after being in front of that rival for the opening quarter mile.
Arnaud Delacour
"He got a breather around the turn and really kicked on well," he added.
Chez Pierre paid $20.84 to win as the fourth favorite in the field of eight, his odds plummeting from 24-1 to 9-1 in the final tote board flashes.
Computer-assisted wagering, with certain high-stakes betting groups betting large sums on perceived inefficiencies, contributes to late odds changes in numerous betting markets in North America.
Up to the Mark rallied from sixth to grab third, a neck behind Modern Games, with Cabo Spirit another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth.
Speaking Scout , Dr Zempf, Emmanuel and In Love completed the order of finish.
Lael Stables' Chez Pierre improved to 6-for-7 with Friday's victory. He earned his largest payday of $298,375, boosting his earnings to $427,791.
"He has just got himself a grade 1," Prat said. "So the sky is the limit for him."
The winning connections of Chez Pierre in the trophy presentation for the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes
Chez Pierre rebounded from his first defeat in the Feb. 4 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) when he returned from a nearly 10-month layoff after a physical setback.
"We felt he was probably at his optimum today; he had the race under his belt at Tampa Bay Downs," trainer Arnaud Delacour said.
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Modern Games, last year's champion male turf horse in North America conditioned overseas by British trainer Charlie Appleby, did not provide jockey William Buick with an immediate response when he was asked to pick up his pace on the second turn.
"I was under pressure a little bit sooner than I thought I would be. Obviously, I could see the winner was a fair way ahead of me," Buick said. "Look, he ran a good race."
Friday's race marked Modern Games' first start since he took the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) over the Keeneland course Nov. 5. His other top-level wins in North America came in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar and in the 2022 Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) in Canada.
"You're always disappointed when you get beat when you're an odds-on shot, but fair credit to the winner," said Appleby, who indicated he would look for summer races in Europe for Modern Games and "work back" in planning toward another Breeders' Cup Mile start this fall.
This year's Breeders' Cup is at Santa Anita Park Nov. 3-4.
The Breeders' Cup Mile could also be a realistic goal for Chez Pierre, as could other major races at around a mile on turf. Delacour mentioned the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course as another option this summer.
Chez Pierre runs away from the field in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes
"Modern Games is considered one of the best milers in the world, let's face it," Delacour said. "So a performance like that today (from Chez Pierre) is very exciting, and makes us wish that we can continue to perform well in that kind of races."
The winner, bred in France by SCEA des Prairies & Ecurie de Castillon, is one of two stakes winners out of the Orpen mare Hortensia . All of the dam's three foals to race are winners. Of her two unraced foals, the youngest is an unnamed 2-year-old Zelzal colt.
Chez Pierre twice appeared public auctions, most recently selling for the equivalent of $114,164 to NBB Racing from the LV consignment to Arqana's 2020 Summer Sale at Deauville.