By Alan Carasso
Improbable gave the Bob Baffert a measure of consolation following Authentic (Into Mischief)'s defeat in the GI Santa Anita Derby, winning the GI Hollywood Gold Cup in a common gallop as the 6-5 favorite.
Sent along by Drayden Van Dyke to stalk a steady pace set by longshot Brown Storm (Chi) (Scat Daddy) from second, the $110,000 Keeneland November weanling and $200,000 Keeneland September yearling traveled well within himself through the middle stages before being sent into the lead at the three-eighths pole. While he was traveling supremely well, he had his five rivals off the bridle behind him and he strode out beautifully to score by 3 1/4 lengths. Higher Power ran on to be a non-threatening second with no excuses, with Midwest shipper Tenfold further back in third. The win was the seventh in the 10-furlong affair for trainer Bob Baffert, who won the race the final three years it was held at Hollywood Park from 2012-2014. He trails the legendary Charlie Whittingham, who won the race eight times.
Winner of the GI Los Alamitos Futurity at two, Improbable was narrowly beaten into second by Omaha Beach (War Front) in the GI Arkansas Derby and was the beaten favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby (fifth, placed fourth at 4-1) and GI Preakness S. (sixth at 5-2). Victorious off the bench in the Shared Belief S. at Del Mar in August, he was fourth as the chalk in the GI Pennsylvania Derby, a well-beaten fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and recently returned to finish second to Tom's d'Etat (Smart Strike) in the Oaklawn Mile Apr. 11.
Pedigree Notes:
Improbable is one of 10 Grade I winners and one of two at 10 furlongs on dirt for his late sire, joining former Baffert trainee and current Airdrie stallion Collected (TVG Pacific Classic). City Zip also sired Dayatthespa and Catch a Glimpse to victories over a mile and quarter on turf. Improbable, whose third dam is responsible for prominent sire Hard Spun (Danzig), has a 2-year-old half-brother named Snake Doctor (Oxbow) who is training steadily at Keeneland; and a yearling half-brother by Cross Traffic.
Saturday, Santa Anita
HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP S.-GI, $300,500, Santa Anita, 6-6, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:01.69, ft.
1–IMPROBABLE, 122, c, 4, by City Zip
1st Dam: Rare Event, by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Our Rite of Spring, by Stravinsky
3rd Dam: Turkish Tryst, by Turkoman
'TDN Rising Star' ($110,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd & SF Racing LLC; B-St. George Farm LLC & G Watts Humphrey Jr (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Drayden Van Dyke. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 12-5-3-0, $1,129,520. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Higher Power, 124, h, 5, Medaglia d'Oro–Alternate, by Seattle Slew. ($250,000 HRA '19 KEEAPR). O-Hronis Racing LLC; B-Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY); T-John W Sadler. $60,000.
3–Tenfold, 122, h, 5, Curlin–Temptress, by Tapit. O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $36,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 4HF, 2HF. Odds: 1.30, 3.20, 9.70.
Also Ran: Brown Storm (Chi), Midcourt, Parsimony.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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