By Alan Carasso
Never before in his nine-race career had 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) led at the first or second call of any of his races.
Never before, even more remarkably, had Chad Brown unsaddled a winner of the GI Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland.
But, drawn widest in a field of nine for Saturday's 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile the flashy chestnut was ridden for speed from out there by Tyler Gaffalione and found extra in the final furlong to earn an all-expenses-paid trip to Del Mar.
The blaze-faced chestnut had to do a bit of work to make the lead, but he was able to cross and clear his rivals through an opening quarter in :23.93 as Talk of the Nation (Quality Road) and Spirit of St Louis (Medaglia d'Oro) raced closest. He picked up the tempo through an internal quarter in :23.35 and was still going great guns for the run around the turn. He began to get away from them as they neared the stretch and was firmly in front with a furlong and a half to travel, but may have idled for a stride or two, allowing Spirit of St Louis to appear a threat. The chestnut colt rebroke, however, and was home a length to the good.
More Than Looks (More Than Ready), a first-up second to Carl Spackler in the GI Fourstardave Handicap on his seasonal return Aug. 11, caboosed the field after an awkward dispatch and did not handle the run into the first turn especially well. Quietly ridden down the back of the track, he was clearly last to make the stretch, but steamed home once switched out to complete a chalky exacta. The sponsor's Mountain Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) was third.
“My horse broke alertly (from the outside post),” Gaffalione explained. “I looked to the inside, and nobody was really in any hurry to get going forward. I didn't want to take too much away from my horse, so I just put my hands down and let him get comfortable. He proved he was best today. He's a tremendous athlete. All the credit goes to (trainer) Chad (Brown) and his team. They bring these horses over ready to run. (The horses are) so kind; they listen to the cues of the jockeys. He did everything I asked him, and he really turned it on.”
Hard-fought winner of the May 2 Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill, Carl Spackler was a flat fifth in the GIII Poker Stakes at Saratoga June 8, but outgamed Talk of the Nation next out in the GIII Kelso S. July 13 when reverting to handier tactics. Just off a moderate pace in the Fourstardave, he exhibited his trademark turn of foot when asked for it and had 3 1/2 lengths on More Than Looks–who was fresh first off the layoff–on the line.
Pedigree Notes:
On behalf of Bob Edwards's operation, Mike Ryan acquired Zindaya for $550,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale and she was turned over to Chad Brown. A decision to keep the mare in training at five was rewarded when Zindaya won the Intercontinental Stakes and later the GII Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita.
Edwards had Carl Spackler consigned through Ballylinch Stud to the 2021 Tattersalls October Sale, but elected to retain him when bidding stalled out at 350,000gns ($499,172), a choice that looks very wise in retrospect. Regal Gallery (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), the 3-year-old half-sister to Carl Spackler, cost Godolphin 450,000gns at Tattersalls in 2022, while the juvenile full-brother, Sandtrap (Ire), commanded the same price from A.C. Elliott at last year's October Sale and was the impressive winner of a 1400-meter Salisbury maiden on debut for Ralph Beckett Sept. 13.
Zindaya, a half-sister to American Grade I winner and top Indian stallion Western Aristocrat (Mr. Greeley), foaled a colt by Uncle Mo this past Feb. 15 and was bred to Justify for her 2025 foal.
Carl Spackler is a 🌟 in the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile! pic.twitter.com/1AFEsYtq7l
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 5, 2024
Saturday, Keeneland
COOLMORE TURF MILE S.-GI, $1,065,625, Keeneland, 10-5, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.23, fm.
1–CARL SPACKLER (IRE), 126, c, 4, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Zindaya (GSW, $567,240),
by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Aristocratic Lady, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: American Dynasty, by Quiet American
'TDN Rising Star'. (350,000gns RNA Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-e Five
Racing Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Fifth Avenue Bloodstock (IRE);
T-Chad C. Brown; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $589,000. Lifetime
Record: 10-7-1-0, $1,568,475. Werk Nick Rating: C.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–More Than Looks, 126, c, 4, More Than Ready–Ladies'
Privilege, by Harlan's Holiday. ($135,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP).
O-Victory Racing Partners; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Cherie
DeVaux. $237,500.
3–Mountain Bear (Ire), 122, c, 3, No Nay Never–Holy Alliance
(Ire), by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire). O-Mrs. John Magnier,
Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Whisperview Trading
Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien. $95,000.
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.07, 3.79, 9.70.
Also Ran: Running Bee, Spirit of St Louis, Kikkuli (GB), Cash Equity (Fr), Talk of the Nation, Noises Off.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
