Trainer Mike Maker had already saddled the first three finishers in the GIII William L. McKnight as well as the winner of the GIII Fred W. Hooper S. earlier on Gulfstream Park's card, and he added his second $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. trophy Saturday as well-backed Atone (Into Mischief) kicked home impressively from midpack to best GISW Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) by 3/4 of a length. Speaking Scout (Mr Speaker), a last-out winner of the GI Hollywood Derby, was third.
The winner, bet down to 7-2 off a 12-1 morning line, most recently took an Aqueduct optional claimer going this distance Nov. 10. Acquired for $130,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July HRA sale after originally racing for his breeder Godolphin, the bay was fourth in this race last year amidst four other graded stakes placings. He was second in the GIII WinStar Mint Million S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10, and was eighth two back in Keeneland's GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. Oct. 8. Ivar was second in that race.
With 2022's Eclipse-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. seeking a fourth win (third graded and second for Maker) on the card, Atone found a good midpack spot along the fence behind solid splits of :23.26, :47.30 and 1:11.36 with Ivar on his right flank. Ivar moved first as Atone had to wait for clear sailing, but Ortiz seemed unconcerned as he eased his mount to the outside as noses pointed for home. Ivar briefly looked the winner as he struck the front in midstretch, but Atone gobbled up ground to reel him in late.
“It was perfect, every step of the way,” Ortiz said of his trip. “I was so happy. I was following a live horse, Wit (Practical Joke), and then by the three-eighths pole the horse that I had to beat was outside of me, so I had to take two or three strides to let him move before I made my move. I waited, but at the same time I tipped my way out so when I hit the clear my horse was there. All the credit goes to the horse.”
The 30-year-old added, “I'm just enjoying the moment and what is happening in my career right now. I have to thank my agent Steve Rushing for doing a great job and thanks to all the owners and trainers for supporting me. They make me the happiest man in the world to be honest. I'm living the dream.”
Maker won the second running of this race in 2020 with Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}), and for good measure, just minutes before Atone's victory, took a state-bred Aqueduct maiden special weight with sophomore colt Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy).
“It feels great to win. It doesn't get old,” said Maker. “Irad looked like he wanted to be forwardly placed out of the gate and it looked like a couple of others had the same idea. He settled in nice, saved some ground and got lucky to get some racing room when it counted… He was a hard-luck horse last year. He's always been right there, and today was his day.”
He added, “It's been a great day, and I've got two more tonight at Turfway.”
Carl Fiebig, a partner in Three Diamonds Farm, said “All the credit goes to Mike and his staff. Irad is an Eclipse Award winner for a reason. It was flawless execution. Most importantly, for the Wycoffs, this win is for them. We're glad to be a small part of this. For myself and my family to be a part of this, I just want to thank Jordan and Kirk [Wycoff] who put a lot of energy, money and everything into this business and I'm glad to see them rewarded on days like this.”
Pedigree Notes:
A product of two of the most important stallions of the last few decades, Atone is his sire's 59th Northern Hemisphere graded winner, but just the second from that group out of an A.P. Indy mare. A.P. Indy is the broodmare sire of 121 graded/group winners worldwide.
Atone's dam, a daughter of GISP Folk, was a stakes winner and graded-placed routing on the dirt. She has a 3-year-old filly named Rekindled (Nyquist) who has been working towards a debut at Tampa Bay Downs, and Captivativ Lass sold to Mark Dodson at KEENOV '21 for $50,000 carrying an English Channel colt. She was bred back to Good Magic. Douglas Arnold bought Atone's 4-year-old half-sister Way of Life (Street Boss) for $11,000 at the recent Keeneland January sale in foal to Astern (Aus).
Saturday, Gulfstream
PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL S. PRESENTED BY QATAR RACING-GI, $981,400, Gulfstream, 1-28, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.19, fm.
1–ATONE, 123, g, 6, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Captivating Lass (SW & GSP, $133,225), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Folk, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Polish Style, by Danzig
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN,
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($130,000 4yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Three
Diamonds Farm; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael J. Maker;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $558,000. Lifetime Record: 23-7-4-4,
$1,179,146. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ivar (Brz), 123, h, 7, Agnes Gold (Jpn)–May Be Now,
by Smart Strike. O-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC & Stud R D I, LLC.;
B-Stud Rio Dois Irmaos (BRZ); T-Paulo H. Lobo. $186,000.
3–Speaking Scout, 123, g, 4, Mr Speaker–Miss Scout,
by Pleasant Tap. ($10,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $3,000 Ylg '20
OBSOCT). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Mike Abraham
(KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $93,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NK. Odds: 3.80, 3.70, 24.00.
Also Ran: Lady Speightspeare, One More Bid, King Cause, Master Piece (Chi), Wit, Good Governance (GB), Hurricane Dream (Fr), Decorated Invader, City Man. Scratched: Steady On, Who's the Star. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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