Annapolis Delivers in Opening Verse at Churchill
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Photo: Coady Photography
Annapolis gets up to win the Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs
Bass Racing's Annapolis wore down Churchtown in deep stretch to win the 18th running of the $300,000 Opening Verse for 4-year-olds and up by a head May 4 at Churchill Downs before a record Thurby crowd of 50,958 May 4.
Earlier in the Thursday program, Youalmosthadme won the 29th running of the $200,000 Kentucky Juvenile for 2-year-olds and Bango took the second running of the $175,000 St. Matthews Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Annapolis completed the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.73.
Get Smokin led the field through uncontested fractions of :24.29 and :49.33 as Annapolis received a ground-saving trip in fifth.
On the far turn, Churchtown went after Get Smokin while Annapolis split horses to move into third. Get Smokin maintained the lead until midstretch when Churchtown and Annapolis roared past in tandem with Annapolis drawing clear in the final yards.
In his first start since the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Keeneland, Annapolis improved his record to 9-6-2-0 and boosted his earnings to $1,341,370 with Thursday's $175,270 check.
"He got the job done today. Luis (Saez) was riding, and I was riding, and coming to the wire, he got his head in front. In the Breeders' Cup Mile, he stumbled at the break, but I kept asking, and he kept trying. And he was facing some very good horses. It's nice to see him back and in great condition. Hopefully, he'll have another great year," Ortiz said.
Annapolis is a 4-year-old homebred son of War Front out of the Unbridled's Song mare My Miss Sophia.
Annapolis returned $3.66, $2.94, and $2.42. Churchtown, ridden by Saez, returned $5.28 and $3.38 and finished two lengths in front of Set Piece , who paid $2.76 to show under Florent Geroux.
In the Kentucky Juvenile, Qatar Racing, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, and Black Type Thoroughbreds' Youalmosthadme grabbed the lead out of the gate and cruised to an 8 3/4-length victory.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Youalmosthadme covered the five furlongs over a fast track in :57.49.
A debut winner by 8 1/2 lengths at Keeneland on April 19, Youalmosthadme dismissed a bid from Tranche on the far turn and ran unopposed to the finish.
"We've only had her in the barn for a little bit, but we were able to gallop her and stand her in the gates. We've liked what we've seen so far. She ran really well today and we're excited to learn more. The connections who had her before us did a great job with her," Cox said.
Youalmosthadme draws away from the field to win the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes
Youalmosthadme is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Oxbow out of the Good and Tough mare Good Gator. Now undefeated in two starts, Youalmosthadme increased her bankroll to $170,000.
Youalmosthadme returned $2.54, $2.18, and $2.10. Lou's Legacy rallied for second and paid $3.98 and $2.66 and finished a length in front of Tranche.
In the St. Matthews, Bango coasted past Pirate Rick on the far turn and drew off for a five-length victory, his 10th at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Greg Foley and ridden by Gaffalione, Bango completed the six furlongs on a fast main track in a stakes-record 1:08.75.
"Riding a classy old horse like him is just fun. He's so cool; just totally cool. He's special, especially here (at Churchill Downs). I love to get up on him. In the paddock he was on the muscle; he bucked me off. I knew then that he was ready. He's one of my favorite horses of all time," Gaffalione said of the winner.
Pirate Rick led the field of seven through an opening quarter-mile in :21.56 with Bango right on his flank. On the far turn, Gaffalione moved on the leader and hit the top of the stretch in the clear.
Bango shook off a challenge from Surveillance in the upper stretch and drew off.
Bango captures the St. Matthews Overnight Stakes
With the victory, Bango added $105,836 to his career bankroll and earned millionaire status at $1,093,551 with a record of 30-12-3-2.
Bango is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Congrats out of the Smart Strike mare Josaka.
Bango returned $6.56, $3.88, and $2.56 as the favorite. Miles Ahead rallied to get second under Joe Talamo, returning $4.12 and $2.72 and finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Surveillance, who paid $3.26 to show under James Graham.
Video: Opening Verse S. (BT)
Video: Kentucky Juvenile S. (BT)