By J.N. Campbell
The rowdy MyRacehorse contingent, chanting their horse's name in unison, flooded the Del Mar winner's circle as they celebrated a signature score by Straight No Chaser (Speightster) in the GI Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday.
Straight No Chaser began his career under trainer Dan Blacker's care over two years ago. As a 3-year-old that summer at Del Mar, the bay debuted a winner while sprinting over the grass. Though he was well-beaten over course and distance against optional claimers that September, Straight No Chaser cleared that level at Santa Anita on the main track the next month.
Well-beaten in the GI Malibu Stakes in Arcadia late in the year, the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic grad was third in the GIII Palos Verdes early in 2023 and then won impressively by a 7 1/4-length margin facing optional claimers at Oaklawn in April. The speedster turned heads by taking home the GIII Maryland Sprint Stakes on the Preakness undercard before being sidelined.
The MyRacehorse investment started his 5-year-old campaign in the shedrow of Juan Landeros where he finished off the board in the GIII Runhappy Stakes at Aqueduct this past May. Back with his original conditioner and off a four-month break, the bay captured the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes Sept. 29.
Straight No Chaser arrived at Del Mar and was backed as a 6-1 shot here. The 5-year-old tracked up the backstretch from while chasing pacesetter Federal Judge (Army Mule). Around the far turn, the Blacker trainee got into gear and started to make his run at the leaders, which included Bentornato (Valiant Minister). Fully-loaded down the lane, Straight No Chaser found his best stride and won by half a length over Bentornato. Mullikin (Violence) was up for third.
“He's just a really talented horse,” said Blacker, who collected his first win in a Breeders' Cup race. “I'm just really thankful to MyRacehorse for having me. They've been such great patient owners. It means a lot to me, obviously, but it's the horse. Ultimately, he's just a really talented horse. All the other horses see in the race are great, super talented horse, too, I'm just lucky to have the best one today.”
Pedigree Notes:
Straight No Chaser's sire (by Speightstown), who sadly passed away in 2022, lays claim to his first Grade I winner. This was Speightster's second Breeders' Cup starter and first winner at the World Championships for the stallion. The winner's dam is responsible for 2-year-old colt in-training T Kraft (Connect) and a yearling colt by Omaha Beach. Margarita Friday foaled a colt by Practical Joke Feb. 24 and she was entered in Authentic's book for next term. Straight No Chaser's extended female family includes dual champion sprinter and MGISW Housebuster (Mt. Livermore).
Straight No Chaser wins the $2 Million @Cygames_EN #BreedersCup Sprint! Congrats to all connections! #BC24 pic.twitter.com/Fa4dzrZnFO
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 2, 2024
Saturday, Del Mar
CYGAMES BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT-GI, $1,840,000, Del Mar, 11-2, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.62, ft.
1–STRAIGHT NO CHASER, 126, h, 5, by Speightster
1st Dam: Margarita Friday, by Johannesburg
2nd Dam: Smile Maker, by Capote
3rd Dam: Desireux, by Fappiano
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($110,000 2yo '21 EASMAY). O-MyRacehorse; B-John Eaton & Steve Laymon (KY); T-Dan Blacker; J-John R. Velazquez. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-0-1, $1,416,300. *1/2 to Hangover Saturday (Pomeroy), SW, $106,875. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bentornato, 124, r, 3, Valiant Minister–Her Special Way, by Put It Back. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($45,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $170,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Leon King Stable Corp.; B-Tanma Corp. (FL); T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo. $340,000.
3–Mullikin, 126, c, 4, Violence–Tulira's Star, by Congrats. ($500,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $180,000.
Margins: HF, 2HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.10, 28.00, 3.20.
Also Ran: Gun Pilot, Federal Judge, Nakatomi, Raging Torrent, Meta Max, Don Frankie (Jpn), Skelly, Remake (Jpn).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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