Intricate (Gun Runner), a last out maiden winner going two turns at Keeneland Oct. 13, picked up 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with a sensational score in Saturday's GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs.
It was 5 1/4 lengths back to favored 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in second. Central Avenue (Street Sense), second behind unbeaten GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I (Justify) in the GI Frizette S., was third.
“She's a very easy filly to train and does it all by herself,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh, who parlayed a third-place finish in last year's Golden Rod with Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) into a win in this year's Kentucky Oaks.
“She's just been starting to come around and really put things together today. We've always thought she's a true two-turn filly. Last year this race worked out well for the development of Pretty Mischievous. We'll see where we end up down the road with her but I'm sure we'll entertain the Fair Grounds races like we did last year.”
Off at 6-1 odds, Intricate jumped well from her inside draw and found a good spot in third rounding the clubhouse turn. Traveling nicely in an inside third as the unbeaten West Sunset (West Coast) set an uncontested pace, she awaited racing room on the far turn, found a seam in between runners as they straightened and ran to daylight in the stretch to win as much the best.
“She ran great today,” winning rider Tyler Gaffalione said. “She's figuring things out and getting better with each start. I think the longer distance will definitely help her.”
A debut fifth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths behind the aforementioned runaway Rags to Riches S. winner going six furlongs beneath the Twin Spires Sept. 16, Intricate took a big step forward at second asking with a strong maiden win around two turns in Lexington.
Pedigree Notes:
Intricate, a $200,000 KEESEP yearling turned $280,000 OBS April breezer, becomes the 18th graded/group winner for leading young sire Gun Runner. Broodmare sire Distorted Humor is now responsible for 62 graded/group winners. The winning broodmare Complex Analysis, a $335,000 KEESEP yearling, has also produced a colt by The Factor in 2022 and a colt by Munnings in 2023. She was bred back to Candy Ride (Arg).
Saturday, Churchill Downs
GOLDEN ROD S.-GII, $399,498, Churchill Downs, 11-25, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.01, ft.
1–INTRICATE, 122, f, 2, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Complex Analysis, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Tabarin, by El Prado (Ire)
3rd Dam: La Cucina (Ire), by Last Tycoon (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes and Cambron Equine, LLC; B-LBD Stable, LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $240,455. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $302,180. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Thorpedo Anna, 122, f, 2, Fast Anna–Sataves, by Uncle Mo. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($40,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Brookdale Racing, Inc., Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek); B-Judy Hicks (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $78,050.
3–Central Avenue, 122, f, 2, Street Sense–Centring, by A.P. Indy. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham. $39,025.
Margins: 5 1/4, NK, HF. Odds: 6.33, 0.99, 7.30.
Also Ran: Dozen Diamonds, Gin Gin, Purloin, Here's the Spider, West Sunset.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#2 INTRICATE ($14.66) made winning look simple today, splitting rivals in the stretch and pulling away to win the $400,000 GII Golden Rod Stakes!
The filly by @Three_Chimneys's Gun Runner was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff for trainer @brenpwalsh. pic.twitter.com/LB5nPi75DM
— TVG (@TVG) November 25, 2023
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