KatieRich homebred American Apple stalked, pounced and pulled off a 47-1 upset Saturday in the Big A's GII Matron S. Fifth in a pair of main-track dashes at Churchill early in the season, the bay improved to be third in a two-turn Ellis turf event July 15. She resurfaced to graduate by a nose at Kentucky Downs going 6 1/2 panels Sept. 14, but earned just a 58 Beyer Speed Figure compared to the mid-to-high 70s many of the others here had run.
Away well, American Apple tucked in just behind the speed through splits :22.55 and :46.06. She worked off the fence to overtake aptly named longshot pacesetter Fleetfooted (Speightster) in upper stretch, kicked on near the eighth pole and fended off co-favored Redefined late to hold on by a neck. Danse Macabre, who finished one spot ahead of Redefined when second in Saratoga's Aug. 21 Bolton Landing S. before annexing the lucrative Untapable S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 13, could only manage third after drafting behind American Apple early.
“I brought her up Wednesday and it seemed like she shipped up fine,” said trainer Daniel Leitch, who was celebrating by far the biggest win of his young career. “We took her to the track on Friday and she was feeling good. It seemed like she shipped up fine and we figured she would run big today. She had been eating up and doing everything right since we got here.
“I figured the two horse [Danse Macabre] would be right there the whole time. I told [jockeu] Eric [Cancel] to sit off the two and just make a run at her, just like she did at Kentucky Downs. Thank God Eric went on with her and just sat behind. I was kind of nervous when he went on the inside because I was hoping there was a hole. Thank God a hole opened up. Everything worked out.”
Leitch previously worked for trainer Ray Handal and under former KatieRich private trainer Mark Hubley along with duties such as foal watch, sales prep and breaking yearlings. He took over as head trainer for KatieRich last September.
“We didn't think we were 30-1, but we thought there were seven speed horses in there,” said owner Larry Doyle. “We knew what we had and it was going to be a tough race. We were only here because there was nowhere else to run. If there were an easier spot, that's where we would have been.”
Of his trainer, Doyle said, “Daniel Leitch has been working for KatieRich for 12 years. He's homegrown. When [trainer] Mark Hubley retired last year and turned the reins over to him, we had all the confidence in the world in him.”
Doyle said American Apple would be considered for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint but could also return to New York for the Stewart Manor S. one day later.
Saturday, Belmont at The Big A
MATRON S.-GIII, $150,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-8, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:09.59, gd.
1–AMERICAN APPLE, 120, f, 2, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Miss Mary Apples (GSP, $171,172), by Clever
Trick
2nd Dam: Sacred Sue, by Holy Bull
3rd Dam: Bootshine Girl, by Green Dancer
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.O/B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Daniel Leitch; J-Eric Cancel. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-1, $185,700. *1/2 to Lady Apple (Curlin), MGSW & GISP, $1,078,324; 1/2 to Miss Red Delicious (Empire Maker), MSW, $203,425; 1/2 to Dr. Diamonds Prize (Pure Prize), SW-USA, GSP-Can, $240,903. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Redifined, 120, f, 2, More Than Ready–Mrs. Boss (Brz), by Wild Event. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($150,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Team D; B-Abdulrahman Aljasmi (KY); T-Anthony Dutrow. $30,000.
3–Danse Macabre, 122, f, 2, Army Mule–Sylphide, by Blame. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($11,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $27,000 RNA Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $55,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-NBS Stable and Elements Racing, LLC; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Kelsey Danner. $18,000.
Margins: NK, 1HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 47.50, 2.55, 2.50.
Also Ran: Dontlookbackatall, Personal Pursuit, Sweetlou'sgotaces, How Lovely, Little Linzee, Fleetfooted, Sweet Harmony, Atomic Girl. Scratched: Apple Picker, Determined Jester.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Pedigree Notes:
American Apple becomes the 18th graded stakes winner and 31st stakes winner worldwide for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Broodmare sire Clever Trick, born all the way back in 1976, is now the broodmare sire of 29 graded winners–including American Apple's half-sister, four-time dirt route GSW and 2019 GI Kentucky Oaks third Lady Apple–and SW/MGSP half-sister Dr. Diamonds Prize. Another precocious MSW out of dam Miss Mary Apples produced GSW grasser Nootka Sound (Lonhro {Aus}), and another half to American Apple was responsible for SW/GISP near $600,000 earner Parlor (Lonhro {Aus}). Larry and Karen Doyle's KatieRich paid just $37,000 for Miss Mary Apples as a KEESEP yearling. She was a debut-winning juvenile at Keeneland in April of 2002, and finished second in the Fashion S. and GII Schuylerville S. on this NYRA circuit in her subsequent two outings.
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