By Alan Carasso
Prior to sending out Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) to a victory in last year's GI Keeneland Turf Mile, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, trainer Paolo Lobo had not tasted Grade I success in 16 years dating back to Pico Central (Brz) (Spend a Buck)'s victory in the GI Met Mile in 2004. Jockey Alex Achard, 30 years of age, hadn't so much as ridden in a top-level event, but made the most of the opportunity Saturday afternoon, guiding In Love (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) to a 12-1 upset, giving his connections a second straight success in the race.
The lesser-preferred half of the uncoupled entry with 4-1 Ivar, In Love was settled in a midfield seventh, a spot or two behind a tugging Ivar, as longshot Brown Storm (Chi) (Scat Daddy) cut out the running from Diamond Oops (Lookin At Lucky) and a three-wide Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown). Nicely settled along the fence and traveling underneath reigning Breeders' Cup Mile hero Order of Australia (GB) (Australia {GB}) down the backstretch, In Love raced more or less on the back of Ivar and improved by a spot as Order of Australia called it a day three furlongs down. Traveling extremely kindly nearing the stretch, he was eased off the heels of Ivar and into the the three or four path in upper stretch and sprinted his final quarter mile in :22.91 (according to Trakus) to cause the upset. One-time claimer Tell Your Daddy (Scat Daddy), exiting a front-running victory in the GII Bernard Baruch H. Sept. 6 at Saratoga, ran on gamely for second just ahead of Somelikeithotbrown.
In Love is nominated to the Breeders' Cup and trainer Paolo Lobo seemed to indicate Ivar would benefit from the return effort and would alsp proceed to Del Mar. Bonne Chance and Stud RDI are also set to be represented in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf by Imperador (Arg) (Treasure Beach {GB}), winner of the GII Calumet Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs.
A maiden scorer and Group 2-placed in Argentina, In Love was an allowance winner at last year's Keeneland fall meeting and snapped a three-race losing streak in a second-level allowance at Arlington July 25. He was exiting a 2 1/4-length success with blinkers added in the TVG2 S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 8.
“I think the big key was we went to Arlington and tried an easier spot, and he won the race, and then we put blinkers on him and he improved a lot,” said Lobo who saddled Farda Amiga (Broad Brush) to win the 2002 GI Kentucky Oaks before closing her career with a runner-up effort to Azeri (Jade Hunter) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Arlington. “I think the horse is improving. You know, Kentucky Downs horses get very fit. And also he loves it here [at Keeneland]. Last year he won an allowance very easy here, and I think the give in the ground helped him.”
Pedigree Notes:
In Love is the 16th G1SW/GISW for Agnes Gold (Jpn), a son of Sunday Silence who passed away in late September in Brazil at the age of 23. Last Bet is the dam of In Love's 2-year-old full-sister Miss Sarajevo (Brz) and a yearling full-brother to In Love.
Saturday, Keeneland
KEENELAND TURF MILE S.-GI, $750,000, Keeneland, 10-9, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.84, gd.
1–IN LOVE (BRZ), 126, g, 5, by Agnes Gold (Jpn)
1st Dam: Last Bet (Brz) (GSW & G1SP-Brz),
by Know Heights (Ire)
2nd Dam: Barefoot Contessa (Brz), by Ghadeer (Fr)
3rd Dam: Feminite, by Duke of Marmalade
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Bonne Chance
Farm, LLC & Stud R D I, LLC.; B-Fazenda Mondesir / Stud Rio
Dois Irmaos (BRZ); T-Paulo H. Lobo; J-Alex Achard. $450,000.
Lifetime Record: GSP-Arg, 13-5-2-2, $729,700. *1/2 to Last Kiss
(Brz) (Elusive Quality), G1SW-Brz, G1SP-Arg. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tell Your Daddy, 126, g, 5, Scat Daddy–Harbingerofthings, by
Rockport Harbor. ($250,000 Ylg '17 FTKTUR). O-Flying P Stable;
B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Thomas Morley. $150,000.
3–Somelikeithotbrown, 126, h, 5, Big Brown–Marilyn Monroan,
by Tapit. O-Skychai Racing LLC & Sand Dollar Stable LLC; B-Hot
Pink Stables & Sand Dollar Stables (NY); T-Michael J. Maker.
$75,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, HD. Odds: 12.30, 29.10, 6.80.
Also Ran: Ivar (Brz), Space Traveller (GB), Front Run the Fed, Pixelate, Diamond Oops, Argentello (Ire), Monarchs Glen (GB), Brown Storm (Chi), Order of Australia (Ire). Scratched: Field Pass. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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