West Memorial became the first winner for freshman sire Caracaro (by Uncle Mo) with an upset win over the boys in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs on Thursday. The John Hancock trainee was a close second on debut at Keeneland Apr. 7.
Overlooked at 17-1 here, the bay watched as the Wesley Ward-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Shoot It True (Munnings), a runaway Keeneland debut winner Apr. 5, and Resolute Racing acquisition Mensa (Complexity), a $740,000 purchase earlier this week via the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale platform, battled for command up the backstretch.
West Memorial was never that far off the frontrunners, and, when the pacesetters began to tire, West Memorial rolled down the center of the course to get the money.
The second to race out of a dam who herself never made it to the track, the winner has a yearling half-brother by Tacitus. Vita Bella was bred to Olympiad for this spring. She is a half-sister to sire Mo Town (Uncle Mo), SP Champagne Lady (Uncle Mo), who went to Barronstown Stud for $1.45 million at last year's Keeneland November Sale while in foal to Flightline, and to 'TDN Rising Star' Justique (Justify).
“My grandfather is over on the backside,” said Matthew Hillard, grandson of winning trainer John Hancock. “He doesn't go for all of this publicity. This is a great filly. She has a great mind. We can do pretty much anything we want with her and you saw how strongly she closed today. I'm not sure what is going to happen with her next, but we may wind up going to Saratoga during Belmont Week.”
KENTUCKY JUVENILE S., $247,165, Churchill Downs, 5-2, 2yo, 5f, :58.29, ft.
1–WEST MEMORIAL, 118, f, 2, by Caracaro
1st Dam: Vita Bella, by Super Saver
2nd Dam: Grazie Mille, by Bernardini
3rd Dam: Molto Vita, by Carson City
($45,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Swinbank Stables, LLC; B-Equine Futures LLC (KY); T-John A. Hancock; J-Reylu Gutierrez. $150,280. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $160,270.
2–Strummin, 118, c, 2, Flameaway–Queen of the Party, by Kantharos. ($12,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Randle L. Glosson; B-Kali Kleinfelt & Justyn Harper (KY); T-John A. Hancock. $48,800.
3–Akinmusire, 118, c, 2, Will Take Charge–Gotta B Kitten Me, by Lucky Pulpit. ($5,000 Ylg '23 FTDMAY). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Michael Iavarone, Jules Iavarone and Jarrett Collins; B-Perry Martin (KY); T-Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. $24,400.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2, 1. Odds: 17.94, 22.30, 6.96.
Also Ran: Shoot It True, Tuxedo Park, Mensa, Turnbuckle, Jet Sweep Joe. Scratched: The Queens M G.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
West Memorial runs home late to win the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes under Reylu Gutierrez! pic.twitter.com/PwjVbJcZ3U
— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 2, 2024
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
