By Alan Carasso
Twin Creeks Racing Stable's Chasing Liberty (Constitution) was among the pre-entries to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, but was three deep on the list of horses that were not selected by the Breeders' Cup seeding panel. The homebred was instead re-routed for Friday's Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, heretofore a race for dirt marathoners, but switched to something of a consolation event for the Juvenile Turf.
Sent off at odds of 34-5 and trying two turns for the first time off a troubled fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 6, Chasing Liberty was able to get down into the three path after departing gate nine in a scratched-down field, traveled nicely in hand and went up to the leading duo three wide at the final corner. Roused to the lead a furlong from home, he kept on well and was saved by the wire, as Test Score (Lookin At Lucky)–who overcame trouble of his own to graduate on opening day at Keeneland Oct. 4–took a dive at him, but just missed. Favored Cavallo Bay (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}) finished a non-threatening third.
“We had a beautiful trip,” said winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. “He broke well and he was a little closer than in his last couple or races. The field was bunched, so I was comfortable going three wide. When I asked him to run turning for home, he responded. I felt that other horse coming on the inside, so I asked a little more and he fired.”
A smooth winner of his 5 1/2-furlong unveiling at Ellis Park July 28, Chasing Liberty was bothered badly and crossed the line second in the Sept. 1 Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs before being promoted to the victory. Last through the early exchanges in the Indian Summer, he was eight wide at the head of the lane and was bumped, but rallied strongly to be fourth, two lengths behind GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hopeful Governor Sam (Improbable).
Chasing Liberty is the 71st worldwide stakes winner for his sire, his 44th in the Northern Hemisphere. He has a yearling full-brother, a weanling half-sister by Epicenter and his dam was bred to both Oscar Performance and Not This Time this past season.
THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE S., $204,500, Del Mar, 11-1, 2yo, 1mT, 1:37.44, fm.
1–CHASING LIBERTY, 120, c, 2, by Constitution
1st Dam: Peaceful (SP, $139,520), by Declaration of War
2nd Dam: Stellabymoonlight, by Malibu Moon
3rd Dam: Five Star Dream, by Two Punch
O-Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC; B-Twin Creeks Farm (KY); T-Rob Atras; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $770,901.
2–Test Score, 120, c, 2, Lookin At Lucky–Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H Graham Motion. $40,000.
3–Cavallo Bay (GB), 120, c, 2, Pinatubo (Ire)–La Pelosa (Ire), by Dandy Man (Ire). O-Godolphin LLC; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charles Appleby. $24,000.
Margins: NK, 1, 3/4. Odds: 6.80, 12.20, 3.20. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
CHASING LIBERTY ($15.60) got the jump under @iradortiz and took the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at @DelMarRacing. The 2-year-old son of Constitution (@WinStarFarm) was trained by Rob Atras.
The Pick 6 starts now: https://t.co/BrY4tosRWH pic.twitter.com/FZXdTNi73l
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) November 1, 2024
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