By Alan Carasso
Anthony Fanticola's Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) rallied smartly through the final furlong and half to prove a much-the-best winner of Saturday's GIII Green Flash H. at Del Mar, sewing up a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint up the road at Santa Anita in early November in the process.
Sent off the 13-5 favorite with Geovanni Franco replacing the injured Umberto Rispoli in the irons, Motorious raced in about seventh position of the 12 runners down the backstretch, but not terribly far off the pace disputed by 60-1 Helladic (Kantharos) and Cal-bred standout 3-year-old Bus Buzz (Stay Thirsty). Kept purposely in the clear for the run around the turn, Motorious was five to six wide off the final corner, kicked it into another gear with a furlong to race and charged home down the middle of the course to score convincingly. Cherubic Factor (The Factor) outfinished the rail-rallying Beer Can Man (Into Mischief) for second.
“I got lucky enough to where Phil would let me work him a few times in the morning so I got pretty familiar with the horse,” said Franco of the chance to ride Motorious. “Being given the opportunity for me was a blessing and of him being open for the race. To get to ride him, it gave me a lot of confidence. And you know what, I didn't know how much he can run in the afternoon, but he can sure run. Phil told me he needed a clear break out of the gate, and he broke like a champion. From then on it was just a matter of time whenever I was going to ask him to go and he sure did.”
A two-time winner in seven English appearances for trainer Stuart Williams before being purchased by Craig Rounsefell's Boomer Bloodstock for 220,000gns at the 2021 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Motorious made a course-and-distance allowance his first U.S. victory last November and took a down-the-hiller at Santa Anita just after the new year before finishing second to Lane Way (Into Mischief) in the Jan. 29 Clockers Corner S. up north. Popular winner of the GIII San Simeon S. Mar. 5, Motorious was making his first start since rallying into second behind Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}) in the GII Turf Sprint S. at Churchill May 6.
Pedigree Notes:
Motorious is one of 11 group/graded winners for his sire, who was only recently moved to Haras du Petit Tellier to stand as the property of Shadwell and a consortium of French breeders. Motorious's multiple Group 3-placed dam is also responsible for Matters Most (GB) (Advertise {GB}), runner-up in the Listed Ripon Champion Two Yrs Old Trophy S. in August, a now-yearling colt by Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) that sold for 82,000gns at last year's Tattersalls November Foal Sale and a filly by Ardad (Ire) foaled Mar. 23.
Saturday, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
GREEN FLASH H.-GIII, $153,500, Del Mar, 9-2, 3yo/up, 5fT, :56.07, fm.
1–MOTORIOUS (GB), 123, g, 5, by Muhaarar (GB)
1st Dam: Squash (GB) (MGSP-Eng), by Pastoral Pursuits (GB)
2nd Dam: Super Midge (GB), by Royal Applause (GB)
3rd Dam: Sabina (GB), by Prince Sabo (GB)
(55,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT; 220,000gns 3yo '21 TATAHI). O-Anthony Fanticola; B-Kirtlington Stud & Mrs Mary Taylor (GB); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Geovanni Franco. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 15-6-4-2, $388,944. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cherubic Factor, 120, g, 5, The Factor–Cherub, by Giant's Causeway. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($17,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP; $46,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN). O-Exline-Border Racing LLC, Richard Hausman, William Dan Hudock and Susanna Wilson; B-David DiPietro (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $30,000.
3–Beer Can Man, 122, g, 5, Can the Man–Cheesecake, by Dynaformer. ($9,500 RNA Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and Sterling Stables, LLC; B-Ron Patterson (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $18,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, NO, HF. Odds: 2.60, 22.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: Turn On The Jets (Ire), Lane Way, Bus Buzz, Bran (Fr), Silent Poet, Fast Buck, Packs a Wahlop, Helladic, Kid Corleone. Scratched: Barristan The Bold (GB), Mas Rapido (GB), Noble Re
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Motorious wins it well.
Motorious flies down the turf under @franco_geo to earn a trip to the @BreedersCup Turf Sprint. pic.twitter.com/1raipvpFpS
— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) September 3, 2023
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