A troubled fifth in the GIII Troy S. over this course and distance last August, Pulsate (Speightstown) settled for second in this event just shy of 12 months ago before hitting the shelf. The chestnut resumed following a 10-month absence to just miss to the ill-fated Fiya (Friesan Fire) in a hand-timed Belmont turf sprint on Independence Day and was a latest fourth in a rare appearance over the local main track Aug. 6.
Away without incident, Pulsate landed in third position early on as Noble Emotion (Noble Mission {GB}) was ridden to keep pace inside of favored Maven (American Pharoah). Stalking that leading duo into the turn, Pulsate was asked to come after the leaders three deep in upper stretch, found his way to the front with less than a furlong to travel and scraped home first. The comebacking Backtohisroots (Mark Valeski) exchanged bumps twice with Maxwell Esquire (Discreet Cat) in the opening strides, rallied wide into the lane and was getting to the winner, who was saved by the wire.
“Did it set up perfect? You can't write the script any better,” said winning trainer Bob Ribaudo. “The fact that you're inside and can outrun the rest of the field, so that you're not boxed down on the fence. So, he stalked the leaders and was able to get out a little bit. No problem. Manny rode him perfect, as usual.”
Pulsate is the 126th black-type winner for Speightstown, who has crossed well with Sadler's Wells-line mares, predominantly through Medaglia d'Oro (including G1/GISWs Rock Fall, Competitionofideas and She's Happy {Arg}) and other graded winners Essence Hit Man, Souper Stonehenge, Strike Power and Shirl's Speight. Celestial Kitten is the dam of a colt foal by Palace Malice and was bred to Flatter this term. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
LUCKY COIN S., $120,000, Saratoga, 9-3, (C), 4yo/up, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.39, fm.
1–PULSATE, 118, h, 5, Speightstown–Celestial Kitten (MGSP,
$233,843), by Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($135,000
Ylg '17 FTKOCT; $280,000 2yo '18 OBSAPR). O-Marc Keller;
B-Austin Paul (KY); T-Robert Ribaudo; J-Manuel Franco.
$66,000. Lifetime Record: 17-4-4-2, $307,655.
2–Backtohisroots, 118, g, 5, Mark Valeski–Great Family, by
Harlan's Holiday. ($6,500 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Gatsas
Stables; B-Brereton C Jones (KY); T-John P Terranova II.
$24,000.
3–Guildsman (Fr), 124, g, 4, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Dardiza
(Ire), by Street Cry (Ire). (€67,000 Ylg '18 AROYRG; €125,000
2yo '19 ARQMA; 160,000gns RNA 2yo '19 TATAHI). O-Sanford J
Goldfarb, Nice Guys Stables, Jorge Casal & Beast Mode Racing
LLC; B-SCEA Haras de Saint Pair (FR); T-Robert N Falcone Jr.
$14,400.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 6.50, 4.40, 37.50.
Also Ran: Noble Emotion, Holiday Stone, Maven, Maxwell Esquire. Scratched: The Connector.
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