Bandua Sets Course Record on Million Preview Day

Third in the Secretariat Stakes (G1T) in August, Calumet Farm's Bandua returned to Arlington International Racecourse July 13 and captured the $150,000 Arlington Handicap (G3T), his first stakes victory, in course-record time.

The victory was the first of two stakes wins for jockey Adam Beschizza on Million Preview Day, which offered three local preps for next month's grade 1 action.

"He's a straightforward horse, he's never shown a loss of heart, and the class relief today helped him a lot," said Beschizza, who's ridden Bandua in six of eight American races, including a runner-up effort in the Feb. 16 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T).

In the Arlington Handicap, a 1 3/16-mile test ahead of the Aug. 10 Arlington Million (G1T), Beschizza settled Bandua in second behind Chilean champion El Picaro. The leader got up to a two-length advantage as he set opening fractions of :23.27, :47.80, and 1:11.81 but was running out of energy as the turn for home approached.

Beschizza found plenty of room outside of the fading El Picaro, had The Factor  colt's head in front for a 1:35.80 mile, then sped home to hit the wire in 1:53.16 on firm going. Two Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) winners previously held the fastest time. Dank completed the distance in 1:53.38 in 2013, and Reluctant Guest was timed in 1:53 1/5 in 1990 when fractions were used.

"Every race we've ran him in we've had a lot of confidence in him," said winning trainer Jack Sisterson, who trains privately for Calumet. "This horse was training unbelievably. He deserves this win.

"I said, 'Adam, you ride him like you own him,' and that's what he did," Sisterson added. "It was a picture-perfect ride."

Finishing second, 1 3/4 lengths behind 8-5 favorite Bandua, was The Great Day, followed by Captivating Moon in third.

Bred in Kentucky by Judy Hicks and Kathryn Nikkel, Bandua was the second-to-last foal out of the Seattle Slew mare If Angels Sang. His dam also produced Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap winner (G2T) Tale of a Champion, Eddie D Stakes (G3T) winner Mr. Roary, and Ilusora, a dual grade 3 winner on dirt in Argentina.

Calumet went to $150,000 to purchase Bandua as a weanling from the Gainesway consignment at the 2015 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. He ran his first four races in Ireland under trainer Dermot Weld, who conditioned Bandua to a third-place effort in the Secretariat Stakes. The gray/roan colt has been with Sisterson since last fall.

Bandua now has a 3-1-1 record from 12 starts and $251,868 in earnings.

Faraway Kitten Continues Beschizza's Roll

Beschizza scored again one race later aboard Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Faraway Kitten in the American Derby (G3T), setting up the 3-year-old Kitten's Joy  colt for a go in the Secretariat. The American Derby marked back-to-back stakes wins for Faraway Kitten, who won the June 22 Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury Park.

Faraway Kitten took up fifth on the rail in the American Derby, a prep for the Secretariat. Strong Will led through the first half-mile, setting fractions of :23.59 and :47.46 before Flying Scotsman took over from second to run the next half-mile in 1:11.46 and 1:35.67.

Beschizza used a ground-saving trip to make up room on the leaders before tipping his mount outside to finish the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.72 on firm turf. The Mike Maker trainee pulled off a 15-1 upset with his neck victory.

"It was a good, trouble-free trip," said Beschizza. "This horse has a good engine and feels like he can run for days. I'm just glad all the openings came at the right time, and this horse did it in good fashion."

The Last Zip remained close to the front for second, and Crafty Daddy was up for third.

Faraway Kitten was bred in Kentucky and is the fourth of five foals out of the Indian Charlie mare Far Isle, who was exclusively bred to the Ramseys' Kitten's Joy. Far Isle visited the Ramseys' We Miss Artie  for 2019.

The American Derby winner was a $35,000 RNA at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale when consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. He has now earned $322,071 with a 5-0-2 record in nine starts.

Juliet Foxtrot Goes Three in a Row

The fillies and mares were also in the spotlight Saturday with a prep for the Beverly D. Juddmonte Farms' homebred Juliet Foxtrot made it three in a row in the $150,000 Modesty Handicap (G3T), leaving her undefeated in three starts in the United States.

The 4-year-old Dansili filly went out on the lead with jockey Florent Geroux and set opening fractions of :23.91, :49.01, and 1:13.23 while maintaining a length advantage over the favorite, Simply Breathless. Geroux found plenty of run left in his mount as she sailed through a mile in 1:36.79 and opened up on Simply Breathless, who was struggling to go with the pacesetter. 

Juliet Foxtrot, off at 9-5, never faltered and wrapped up 1 3/16 miles in 1:54 flat on firm ground while 1 3/4 lengths in front. Vexatious came from fourth and got up for second over Simply Breathless.

"She's had two starts with us so far (before the Modesty), and we were always really high on her," said winning trainer Brad Cox. "We think a lot of her, and we think she's got the talent to do some good things the rest of this year."

The Modesty is the first stakes victory for Juliet Foxtrot, who has earned $179,081 from four wins in 11 starts.

Juliet Foxtrot was bred in England out of the stakes-winning King's Best mare Kilo Alpha, who also produced group 3-placed Alpha Bravo. Kilo Alpha last foaled a Kingman colt in 2018.

After only one win in eight starts in Europe, Juliet Foxtrot moved across the pond to Cox's care. While she struggled to hit the board back home, she struck first time out in the U.S. April 13 when she gutted out a head victory over a late-running favorite in a one-mile turf allowance at Keeneland. She followed that effort going an extra eighth of a mile May 27 at Churchill Downs in optional claiming and drew off by 4 1/2 lengths.

Video: Arlington H. (G3T)

Video: American Derby (G3T)

Video: Modesty H. (G3T)