By Alan Carasso
Webslinger (Constitution), who broke his maiden in some style in the $510,000 Nownownow S. in his owners' backyard at Monmouth Park last September, sat a three-wide trip, but–crucially–with cover, and outfinished the rail-rallying Far Bridge (English Channel) to provide owner D J Stable with a memorable 2,500th victory in Saturday's GII American Turf S. at Churchill Downs.
Mo Stash (Mo Town), wire-to-wire winner of the GIII Transylvania S. last time and two lengths ahead of the third-placed Webslinger, won the break and cut out the running beneath Luis Saez over a course that had been playing kind to speed over the course of the last couple of days. Desert Duke (Kitten's Joy), whose two latest wins had also come on the engine, pressed the pace, and 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) raced in close attendance while three deep and in the breeze. Those somewhat surprising tactics allowed Javier Castellano to tuck in Webslinger on the favorite's tail, and he followed that one's move until being pulled off heels to deliver his challenge in upper stretch. Mo Stash kept on bravely and took the field deep into the final furlong, but Far Bridge–locked away on the turn–began to weave his way through and appeared to nose in front at the fence with 100 yards to race. But Webslinger refused to be denied, as he was shoved across the wire first, while Major Dude was forced to settle for third, having sat a golden inside trip throughout.
Eleventh, but not beaten far in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, the bay was the 3/4-length winner of his seasonal debut at Gulfstream Feb. 11 before just missing in that track's Colonel Liam S. Mar. 4. Forced to cover ground on the second turn in the Apr. 7 Transylvania, he stuck on gamely to round out the triple, but was dismissed by the punting public Saturday.
“I'm so grateful that Mark [Casse] gave me the opportunity to ride this horse today,” said Castellano. “At Keeneland, he learned a lot when he finished third, and he broke so well coming out of the gate today. That allowed me to save ground, which we needed coming out of 14. I let the race develop on the first turn, and I really liked the way he did it today, and the way he finished the race.”
“That's such a big accomplishment,” said D J Stables' Jon Green. “Win number 2,500 by a horse who we bought inexpensively and now he's won two half-million dollar races. We are thrilled to do it and I think that was one of the deepest races on the entire card.”
Pedigree Notes:
A 24th worldwide graded/group winner (16th in the U.S.) for his sire, Webslinger was offered in utero at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, but Arana was led out unsold on a bid of $24,000. The mare returned to the November Sale 12 months on in foal to Outwork, but was again retained by the Ramseys, this time when bidding stalled out at $14,000. Arana was acquired by Korean interests for $7,000 in foal to Take Charge Indy at KEENOV in 2021 and foaled a filly last season.
Saturday, Churchill Downs
AMERICAN TURF S. PRESENTED BY BMW-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 5-6, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.54, fm.
1–WEBSLINGER, 118, g, 3, by Constitution
1st Dam: Arana, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Sunny Nature (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Bright Spells, by Alleged
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($45,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP;
$25,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $45,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSAPR;
$50,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Kenneth L.
Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Javier
Castellano. $285,200. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-1, $723,800.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Far Bridge, 118, c, 3, English Channel–Fitpitcher, by
Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O-LSU Stables; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
$92,000.
3–Major Dude, 122, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Mary Rita, by Distorted
Humor. ($550,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC;
B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $46,000.
Margins: NO, HF, 1. Odds: 22.67, 6.46, 3.60.
Also Ran: Mo Stash, Johannes, Behind Enemy Lines (GB), Andthewinneris, Carl Spackler (Ire), Mendelssohns March, Anglophile, Scoobie Quando, Otago, Desert Duke. Scratched: Funtastic Again, Talk of the Nation, Wadsworth.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.v
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