Pioneering Spirit Scores First Stakes in Bernard Baruch

John Bianco's Pioneering Spirit  rebounded from a valiant third in a grade 1 to capture his first black-type win in the Sept. 4 Bernard Baruch Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

The 4-year-old gelded son of American Pharoah   has now won five of his last six starts going back to a $40,000 maiden claiming race May 11 at Belmont Park, where trainer Linda Rice put him back on the turf.

Pioneering Spirit had not been on the grass since December of his 2-year-old season, having made two starts on the lawn finishing no better than fourth. He made three runner-up finishes out of six starts on the dirt before previous owner Team Valor International put him into a $40,000 maiden claiming race in March. Rice claimed him for A. Bianco Holding and tried him twice on Aqueduct Racetrack's main track before switching to the grass.

"The horse is just a dream. Every horse you claim should be that good," said Rice, who has banked $352,350 in purses during Pioneering Spirit's last six races. "The ride Jose Lezcano put on him today was masterful. I was thrilled with his position. We talked about it in the paddock, he said 'Linda, I need to be closer today,' and he was right. I was just delighted for Jose, the horse, and the clients. It was wonderful."

Pioneering Spirit was tested in the Aug. 26 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) at 1 1/2 miles, where he finished a respectable third behind Bolshoi Ballet  and Soldier Rising . Maturity and a cutback in distance to 1 1/16 miles presented an opportunity in the Bernard Baruch, despite the nine-day turnaround.

"I think the key is to let young horses mature, and I think the more time you give them and allow them to mature into older horses, they're less likely to get injured," Rice said of the quick return. "I think the injuries happen with young horses and I think once they're 4 or 5, they can handle racing more frequently."

Rice said she is considering the 12-furlong Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Aqueduct Sept. 30 for the next race.

"We'll revisit that one day at a time," she said. "I could see him improving with the distance. I think his distance limitations are boundless. He could run a mile and a half, he might go two miles."

Pioneering Spirit stalked the leaders in third through the early running in the Bernard Baruch, following pacesetter Bring Me a Check  through opening fractions of :24.19, :47.94, and 1:11.43. Lezcano steered his mount off the rail coming into the top of the stretch and unleashed a middle-of-the-stretch charge that took him to the front at the sixteenth pole and delivered a 2 3/4-lengths win. The final time was 1:40.69. Bring Me a Check hung on for second by a neck over Public Sector , who was third by a neck over Emaraaty . Favorite Wit  finished fifth and last.

Oussama Aboughazale's International Equities Holdings bred Pioneering Spirit out of the Giant's Causeway mare Foundation Spirit, a half sister to stakes winner Diva Spirit  and Alpha Spirit, who is the dam of multiple graded stakes winner and sire Protonico . Foundation Spirit produced a filly by McKinzie   earlier this year. American Pharoah has sired 24 black-type winners on turf among his 38 career stakes winners.

Video: Bernard Baruch S. (BT)