by Steve Bailey
Owner-breeder John Iracane could not believe his luck as he glanced around the winner's circle after his unbeaten Bittel Road rallied from next to last to capture the $200,000 Woodford Reserve Bourbon Stakes (G3) by the closest of margins on Sunday at Keeneland Race Course.
The Owensboro, Kentucky, resident, who runs a commercial real estate business while dabbling in Thoroughbred breeding with his father, Joseph, said he had waited many years to celebrate in the Keeneland winner's circle.
"This is really beyond my imagination," he said. "I went to the University of Kentucky and this is my hometown track. I love it more than any other track in America. To breed and partially own a horse that won a graded stakes at Keeneland is hard to comprehend."
Iracane owns the horse in partnership with James Scatuorchio, who was persuaded by trainer Todd Pletcher to buy into the precocious Stormy Atlantic colt.
The victory not only pushed Bittle Road's record to a perfect three wins from as many starts but also secured a spot in the $1-million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on October 25 at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series.
"I'll have to talk to Todd about it, but I'm hoping [we'll go]," said Iracane, who was the co-owner of 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Cajun Beat the last time the event was held at Santa Anita. "I'd like to think we could get lightning to strike twice."
Bittel Road was shuffled back from his post position on the rail and struggled to make up ground in the crowded field of 12, running in 11th through six furlongs under jockey Rajiv Maragh while Ninth Client and Vaquero took the field through a half-mile in :47.91 and six furlongs in 1:13.01.
Angling out and finally finding daylight in the stretch, Bittel Road bore down with determination and closed powerfully to beat Driving Snow (GB) by a head at the line, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.29 on a turf course rated as firm.
"I thought he had a lot to do turning for home," Pletcher said. "Did I think he was going to get there? Probably not. Then he kept building up momentum and I started thinking maybe he could get there. That was a really explosive turn of foot."
Ninth Client finished third, another 1 1/4 lengths behind Driving Snow.
Iracane said he and his father, whom he called his best friend, would savor the moment before thinking about the Breeders' Cup.
"Give me a chance to catch my breath first," he said with a laugh. "It would be nice to get used to this."
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times