7th-Churchill Downs, $124,570, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 6-19, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.65, ft, 5 lengths.
PURE FORCE (c, 3, Constitution–Mexican Gold {GSW & G1SP-Fr, GSP-US, $234,810}, by Medaglia d'Oro) debuted in the Derby Day opener going 6 1/2 furlongs over a muddy strip and raced a bit greenly through the closing stages, but stamped his authority over seven rivals with a 2 1/4-length victory. That effort would otherwise have made him strictly the one to beat in a first-level allowance, but the presence of 'TDN Rising Star' Discreet Mischief (Into Mischief), a distant second to the highly impressive Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in the penultimate race on Derby Day, relegated Pure Force to 2-1 second favoritism. Drawn widest in a field of seven Wednesday, the homebred broke right in stride and was allowed a very easy time of things up front through an opening quarter in just :23.38 as Discreet Mischief lingered at the rear. Axel Concepcion was able to gradually up the tempo as the furlongs ticked away, and by the time he'd reached the eighth pole, the lead had expanded to three. Kept to his task through the final panel, Pure Force had five lengths in hand at the finish as Discreet Mischief was up late to round out the exacta. Pure Force is the second winner from as many starters for his dam, winner of the G3 Prix de la Grotte and subsequently third in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) for Andre Fabre in 2015. In three starts in this country for Chad Brown, Mexican Gold won a Saratoga allowance, was third in the GIII Athenia S. and fourth in the GI Matriarch S. A half-sister to G1SW Announce (GB) (Selkirk) and from the family of Zafonic and Zamindar, Pure Force has a 2-year-old half-brother named Global Asset (Street Sense) and a yearling full-brother. Mexican Gold delivered a Tapit filly Feb. 26. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $141,960. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-Brad H Cox.
.@kaitlinefree is on fire today with her picks! 🔥
A @JuddmonteFarms homebred, #7 Pure Force wins easy and stays perfect in R7 at Churchill Downs for trainer @bradcoxracing with @a_concepcion16 in the irons! 🏆 @brysoncox23
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/1ST2mHvdiN
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) June 19, 2024
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