3rd-Ellis, $50,036, Msw, 8-4, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:05.12, ft.
JUGGERNAUT (c, 2, Goldencents–Hashtag Stormy, by Stormy Atlantic) had been working at Santa Anita through mid-July, but prepped for this with a :49 flat move at Churchill July 27. Ignored at 25-1 for a typically patient barn, he was looking to become the second Keith Desormeaux-trained and James Graham-ridden 2-year-old graduate on the card after second timer Automate (New Year's Day) pulled off his own 20-1 upset in the opener. Scrubbed on from a wide draw to make the lead, the bay emerged from the pack to open several lengths on his competition through a :22.23 opening quarter. Able to get a bit of a breather from there through a :45.63 half, he continued on in the lane to air by 6 1/4 lengths. Dean Martini (Cairo Prince), representing another predominantly California-based trainer in Peter Miller, completed the $383 one-dollar exacta at 24-1. The Desormeaux/favorite/Desormeaux pick three returned $2035.80 for a buck. Juggernaut has a yearling half-sister by these connections' MGISW Exaggerator (Curlin). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Big Chief Racing, LLC & Rocker O Ranch, LLC; B-Big Chief Racing (KY); T-J. Keith Desormeaux.
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