Master Piece Springs Red Smith Upset
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Master Piece wins the Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
One week removed since White Abarrio 's rousing victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic (G1), trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. kept the graded momentum flowing with Master Piece 's upset tally in the Nov. 11 $300,000 Red Smith Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Dutrow has been the fourth trainer for Master Piece since the 7-year-old ridgling was sent to the U.S. three years ago. A group 2 winner in his native Chile, the son of Mastercraftsman (IRE) has raced all over the country from coast to coast, compiling two wins and four graded stakes placings to his record along the way. His finest effort before the Red Smith had been a 3 1/4-length win in the 2022 Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar while under the care of Michael McCarthy.
Owned in partnership by Michael and Julia Iavarone, Nicholas Zoumas, Dino Baccari, Frank Argano, and Peter Douglass, Master Piece joined Dutrow's stable during the summer soon after the conditioner returned to training following a 10-year suspension.
Exiting a 10th-place finish in the Aug. 12 Arlington Million (G1T), the big gray regrouped and returned to action against a field of 11 for the 1 3/8-mile Red Smith. Settling in mid-pack early under jockey Jose Lezcano, the pair bided their time as longshots So High and Tide of the Sea opened up a sizable lead on the rest of the field. Following fractions of :24.58, :48.04, and 1:13, the cavalry charge gave flight and closed the gap on the pacesetters.
Verstappen moved first and held a length advantage at the eighth pole before Master Piece mowed him down from the middle of the track. A rallying Soldier Rising , closing fast between horses, thwarted Master Piece in the final yards but fell a neck short of catching the winner.
Master Piece ($23.60) hit the wire in a final time of 2:14.56 over a firm turf course.
"I'm very happy with the race," Dutrow said. "He had been training very, very well for the last couple of months since the weather started to cool off. That's key for him. He turned into a really good training, good feeling horse. He's been very, very happy lately.
"He got an excellent trip, excellent break, and excellent ride. He was just ready for them today; he's a nice horse. He ran big."
Soldier Rising grabbed second by a half-length over Verstappen in a blanket finish, with Cross Border a neck back in fourth.
Bred in Chile by Haras Don Alberta and produced from the Proud Citizen mare Torre Laguna, Master Piece improved his bankroll to $713,412.
Implicated Up the Rail in Pebbles
Earlier on the card, the "other other Chad" stepped up to win the Pebbles Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies, as Implicated cut the corner under Manny Franco and shot up the rail for a half-length win over eight other turf milers, including her two Chad Brown stablemates.
Implicated, a gray or roan Connect filly, was a stakes winner at 2 before getting nearly a year off from racing. In her comebacker last month, Implicated hit the lead in early stretch before fading to fourth, an effort that served as a perfect tightener for the Pebbles.
The final time was 1:35.82 over a firm turf course. Implicated paid $23.60 as the fifth wagering choice.
Sacred Wish finished with good energy to get second, with Startup Mentality a neck back in third. Favored Rhiannon did not have a kick when she needed it and finished an even fifth.
Implicated after winning the Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct
WHAT THEY SAID
Franco on Implicated: "I was able to break sharp and my filly put me in a great position in the turn. After that, I saw the horse on the lead, so my only chance was to get through to the inside and I was glad I had the horse to make the move. She was there for me. I knew the horses form behind would close but, at the same time, it was a flat mile and I knew I had the filly to get there."