'TDN Rising Star' Doppelganger (c, 4, Into Mischief–Twice the Lady, by Quiet American) finished up full of run down the stretch to upset Saturday's GI Carter H. at the Big A.
The longest shot on the board at odds of 17-1, he caboosed the field of six early and was up a spot into fifth through an opening quarter in :22.40. Under a ride on the far turn, the bay had his work cut out for him a quarter of a mile from home. Steered out and into the clear by Jevian Toledo on the outside in deep stretch, he came rolling over the top to get the money by 1 1/4 lengths. Heavily favored Repo Rocks (Tapiture) was second; Expressman (Liam's Map) was third.
Doppelganger–previously campaigned by Bob Baffert and Tim Yakteen in Southern California–won his first two starts this term for trainer Brittany Russell at Laurel, a two-turn allowance Jan. 27 and a one-turn mile optional claimer last time Feb. 24. He earned a co-career high Beyer Speed Figure of 89 in his latest. Doppelganger was second in last year's GII San Felipe S. and third in the GIII Affirmed S. He concluded his sophomore campaign with a well-beaten fourth in the Los Alamitos Derby July 9.
“It's huge,” Russell said after recording her first Grade I victory as a trainer. “Especially this horse. This is the first horse that the group sent me last year. We opted to give him some time and let him develop, and it's nice to see that it pays off. It's a job well done to the whole team and rewarding to see the patience pay off.”
She continued, “The fact that were able to run him in the 'a other than' and then he comes back in the 'two other than'–this horse thinks he's on top of the world. He doesn't know what races he won in when he won at Laurel. He's just had a lot of confidence and trained well. I've been getting feedback in the morning from everyone that he's getting better and today it showed.”
The GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. on June 10 at Belmont Park could be a potential target for Doppelganger going forward.
Pedigree Notes:
Doppelganger becomes the 15th Grade I winner and 64th graded winner for his all-conquering sire Into Mischief. Quiet American is now the broodmare sire of 18 Grade I winners. Doppelganger's SW & MGSP dam Twice the Lady, a $105,000 purchase by Offset Bloodstock at the 2022 Keeneland November sale, produced a colt by Improbable this year. She was previously a $350,000 purchase by Doppelganger's breeder WinStar Farm at the 2013 FTKNOV sale.
Saturday, Aqueduct
CARTER H. PRESENTED BY NYRA BETS-GI, $300,000, Aqueduct, 4-8, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:23.25, ft.
1–DOPPELGANGER, 118, c, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Twice the Lady (SW & MGSP, $312,204), by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Catherine's Crown, by Chief's Crown
3rd Dam: Catherine's Bet, by Grey Dawn II
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($570,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brittany T. Russell; J-Jevian Toledo. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 10-4-1-1, $442,400. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Repo Rocks, 122, g, 5, Tapiture–Hawaiian Love, by Not For Love. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($35,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Double B Racing Stables; B-Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin (VA); T-Jamie Ness. $60,000.
3–Expressman, 117, c, 4, Liam's Map–Spangled Banner, by Tiz Wonderful. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($145,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $140,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; $325,000 2yo '21 EASMAY). O-St. Elias Stable; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD & Bridlewood Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, HF. Odds: 17.90, 0.80, 7.90.
Also Ran: Today's Flavor, Bold Journey, Little Vic. Scratched: White Abarrio.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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