March to the Arch Rolls to Wise Dan Score
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Photo: Coady Photography
March to the Arch wins the Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs
A competitive field of 13 entered the starting gate for the $250,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) June 15 at Churchill Downs, and the race came down to an exciting photo finish that went to a late-rushing March to the Arch.
The Wise Dan was the first graded stakes victory for the Live Oak Plantation homebred. Trained by Mark Casse, March to the Arch kicked off his 4-year-old season with a victory in the March 31 Touch Vodka Turf Classic Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs against Florida-breds. The Arch gelding also won the Toronto Cup Stakes last summer at Woodbine.
In Saturday's 1 1/16-mile turf feature, March to the Arch sat mid-pack under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Siem Riep, who upset the Opening Verse Stakes May 2 at Churchill, went to the lead again and set fractions of :23.34, :46.88, and 1:10.70.
When the field straightened for home, Siem Riep received competition from All Right and Parlor, with Admission Office throwing his hat into the ring down the stretch through a 1:34.46 mile. All Right looked to have the win, but March to the Arch was rolling on the outside and got up by a neck at odds of 10-1.
The final time was 1:40.58 over a firm course.
"It was just a super ride by Tyler. He saved ground all the way around, swung him out, and he kicked hard," said Casse's assistant, David Carroll. "What a race. It was only his third start of the year. He ran at Tampa and got beat only five lengths to Bricks and Mortar. Hopefully he'll have a big year going forward. Not only is Tyler a tremendous rider, he's a tremendous person. He's very mature and it shows every time he rides for us."
All Right held for second by a neck over Admission Office, who finished a head in front of Parlor.
"The race set up beautifully. The speed went ahead and I was able to tuck in going into the first turn," Gaffalione said. "So, we were saving ground all around and I kind of just followed Corey (Lanerie on Parlor) when he started making his move. When I got him outside, he really exploded. He just kicked it into gear."
March to the Arch is out of the German-bred mare Daveron, a daughter of Black Sam Bellamy. Daveron found success on U.S. turf, winning the Ballston Spa (G2T) and Beaugay (G3) stakes in New York. Her son Global Access, by Giant's Causeway, won this year's Marine Stakes (G3) on Woodbine's Tapeta course and took the DRF Bets Sophomore Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay. Daveron foaled a Quality Road filly in February.
The Wise Dan victory gives March to the Arch a 5-2-1 record from 12 starts and earnings of $429,514.