NEWS
Velazquez finds Twilight zone in Canadian Turf
Posted: Saturday, February 28, 2009 7:18 PM
TWILIGHT METEOR
Bob Coglianese photo
by Myra Lewyn
Peachtree Stable’s Twilight Meteor powered past runner-up Buddy’s Humor in deep stretch and won the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (G3) to earn his first trip to the winner’s circle in two years.
The five-year-old Smart Strike horse tracked from third under John Velazquez and easily dispatched Bujagali before taking on pacesetter Buddy’s Humor nearing the quarter pole. The two matched strides in the stretch before Twilight Meteor dug in and surged clear to a one-length win in 1:34.31 for one mile on a firm course.
Buddy’s Humor held off Buffalo Man by a head for second. Delightful Kiss, the 4.80-to-1 second choice who was prepping for a race in Dubai, was never a factor and finished tenth of 11.
Twilight Meteor, the 6.20-to-1 fourth wagering choice, had competed at ten tracks without a win since capturing the Hallandale Beach Stakes on February 24, 2007, at Gulfstream, although he frequently hinted at his potential while competing on both coasts.
Twilight Meteor posted a trio of runner-up finishes during the stretch in a Canadian classic at Woodbine and Grade 3 races at Delaware Park and Hawthorne Race Course for trainer Todd Pletcher. He also finished third in a stakes at Belmont Park and Grade 3 races at Santa Anita Park and Aqueduct before scoring his breakthrough graded stakes win in his second start at Gulfstream this year.
Twilight Meteor finished fourth of ten in his season debut in a 1 1/8-mile allowance/optional claiming race on January 29 at the Hallandale Beach, Florida, track. The race was his first start in nine months since a third-place finish in the Fort Marcy Handicap (G3) on April 27 at Aqueduct.
“We had to stop on him early last year with some minor aches and pains, but he’s come back and trained very well this year,” Pletcher said.
Velazquez said Twilight Meteor got a perfect trip on Saturday.
“I settled in nicely between the two speed horses and got a great ride,” he said. “And when I asked he responded, no problem. The difference today was that he was ready.”
Twilight Meteor, who is out of the With Approval mare One Over Prime, has four wins, four second-, and three third-place finishes in 17 career starts and $575,291 in purse earnings. Bred in Ontario by Kinghaven Farms, he is under consideration for the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) on April 10 at Keeneland Race Course.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
