Sixth but beaten just three lengths in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes on debut at Gulfstream May 11, Governor Sam returned to the races at Saratoga to break his maiden going gate to wire over 5 1/2 furlongs July 19. Jumping into stakes company again at five furlongs Saturday, he became the first stakes winner for his freshman sire (by City Zip) with a narrow victory in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth. Up close to the early speed of Johnny Come Lately (Hootenanny), the 1-5 favorite and the only runner in the field with any turf experience stayed prominent into the stretch, tipped outside of Jet Sweep Joe late and dueled that runner to the line to just narrowly prevail.
“I did not really like the trip,” admitted winning rider Paco Lopez. “He was hanging out a little bit and I just let him go. It was a good thing it was just the [longshot Jet Sweep Joe] with no one else really close. We needed a good trip. I had to get out from behind a couple horses. I just needed to get out. We had a late push. He's a fighting horse and [Jet Sweep Joe] made us fight. Anything can happen in racing. Sometimes a horse just races unbelievable.”
A half-sister to GSW Pin Up Betty (Constitution), Governor Sam was a $275,000 OBS April buy for his current connections. I'm Betty G, herself a stakes winner, has a yearling City of Light filly and is due to Constitution this year after losing her 2024 Jackie's Warrior foal. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
TYRO S., $100,000, Monmouth, 8-3, 2yo, 5fT, :56.15, fm.
1–GOVERNOR SAM, 118, c, 2, by Improbable
1st Dam: I'm Betty G (MSW & MGSP, $353,100),
by Into Mischief
2nd Dam: Lady in Ermine, by Honour and Glory
3rd Dam: Lucky Lady Sarah, by Polish Numbers
($50,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; $275,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Bregman Family Racing LLC and
Swinbank Stables, LLC; B-Stoneriggs Farm (KY); T-George
Weaver; J-Paco Lopez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0,
$117,850. *1/2 to Pin Up Betty (Constitution), GSW, $349,365.
2–Jet Sweep Joe, 118, c, 2, Frosted–Sister Blues, by Pioneerof
the Nile. O/B-Hall Stables LLC (KY); T-Paul McEntee. $20,000.
3–Kirin, 118, c, 2, Lord Nelson–Wealth Effect, by Curlin. ($7,000
Wlg '22 KEENOV; $95,000 RNA 2yo '24 OBSMAR; $190,000 2yo
'24 OBSOPN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Moreplay LLC and Adela
Munoz; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Jose Francisco
D'Angelo. $10,000.
Margins: NK, 1, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.30, 30.70, 6.80.
Also Ran: Crazy Frazy, Ghostly Rose, Johnny Come Lately. Scratched: Noble Force.
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