NEWS
Octave a star pupil in Coaching Club American Oaks
Posted: Saturday, July 21, 2007 6:48 PM
OCTAVE
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Mike Curry
Octave powered past Folk in the stretch and held off a late bid from runner-up Lear’s Princess to post a half-length win in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on Saturday at Belmont Park and earn her second Grade 1 win in three weeks.
The gray or roan Unbridled’s Song filly finished second in four Grade 1 races prior to winning her first race at the highest level with a 1 1/2-length victory in the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) on June 30 at Belmont Park.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for owners Starlight Stables and Donald Lucarelli, Octave could complete a sweep of New York’s prestigious Triple Tiara, a trio of Grade 1 races for three-year-old fillies, with a win in the Alabama Stakes (G1) on August 18 at Saratoga Race Course.
“This filly’s been a gem of consistency,” Pletcher said. “Back to back Grade 1 wins three weeks apart is huge. To win the Mother Goose and come back three weeks later in the Coaching Club at a mile and a quarter is a real nice accomplishment.
“We’ll keep our options open with her,” added Pletcher, who also trains Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Rags to Riches. “I’m not sure where she’ll go next.”
Octave stalked Gulf News United Arab Emirates One Thousand Guineas winner Folk from second under jockey John Velazquez through three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.25 and a mile in 1:36.47. She dug in gamely as the 1-to-2 favorite when called upon leaving the turn and edged past Folk to seize command in early stretch.
Octave shook free and held off a late bid from fast-closing Lear’s Princess to prevail in 2:02.17 on a main track rated as fast.
“She ran so many races and had so many tough beats,” Velazquez said. “But now, she’s figured it out and won twice. She runs her heart out each time.”
Octave opened the year with three straight runner-up finishes in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 10, the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Race Course on April 7 and the Kentucky Oaks on May 4 at Churchill Downs before breaking through in the Mother Goose. Octave won the Adirondack Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G2) as a juvenile and also finished second in both the Matron Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Bred in Kentucky by Marty and Pam Wygod, Octave is out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Belle Nuit, by Dr. Carter. Octave improved to four wins and six seconds in ten career starts and boosted her earnings to $1,227,934.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor
