By Christina Bossinakis
4th-Presque Isle Downs, $30,450, Msw, 8-27, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (AWT), 1:05.49, ft, neck.
TESSITURA (f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Octave {MGISW, $1,660,934}, by Unbridled's Song), a bit flat- footed at the start, dropped back to last, and remained there as Courageous Ari (Courageous Cat) took the advantage through an opening quarter in :22.31. Seeming to remain unhurried despite the increasing pressure from her jockey Willie Martinez, the 7-2 chance was given a left-handed reminder turning for home as the 10-1 pacesetter seemed to be heading to victory. With several lengths to make up, the roan was offered an escape route from her paint-scraping position as Courageous Ari continued to show the way with Joys of Summer (Summer Front) in hot pursuit. Making a bold late move along the inside, Two Scoops (Always Dreaming) appeared on the scene and momentarily appeared poised for victory. However, despite running greenly down the center of the track, Tessitura rolled to the front in the final strides to best Two Scoops by a neck. The early pacesetter held on for third. The roan is out of GI CCA Oaks and GI Mother Goose winner Octave, an earner of over $1.6 million for Starlight Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher. A sister to MGSW Belle Cherie (Belong to Me), the Unbridled's Song mare is from the family of dual Grade I winner Ms. Eloise. A $350,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, Octave subsequently brought $4-million from Godolphin's John Ferguson at Fasig-Tipton November in 2007. The winner, a half to Portamento (Ire) (Shamardal), GSP-UAE, GSP-Eng, $263,308, also has a yearling brother by Nyquist and a foal sister by Mystic Guide. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $18,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty.
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