NEWS
Interactif cements Cup spot in Bourbon Stakes
Posted: Sunday, October 11, 2009 7:52 PM
INTERACTIF
PhotosByZ.com/Keeneland
To view a video replay of the Bourbon Stakes, click here.
by Myra Lewyn
Interactif scored his second consecutive graded stakes victory on Sunday with a stirring rally from last in the $125,000 Bourbon Stakes (G3) for two-year-olds at Keeneland Race Course.
The Broken Vow colt got a wide trip throughout the 1 1/16-mile race and launched his winning bid from five wide through the second turn before seizing command entering the stretch. As dueling pacesetters Activity Report and Billions Boy retreated, he quickly dispatched a brief challenge from Raging Wit and powered clear to win by one length as the even-money favorite while easily holding back late-running Codoy.
Interactif covered the trip in 1:45.24 on turf rated as yielding. With his victory in the Bourbon, he secured a place in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) on November 7 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
Interactif raced near the back of the field, more eight lengths behind Activity Report and Billions Boy who vied for command through the opening quarter mile in a quick :23.25. Desormeaux shifted his mount to the outside and the bay colt advanced four wide on the backstretch.
Activity Report held half-length advantage from Billions Boy after a half-mile in :47.75 but Billions Boy battled to lead by a head through six furlongs in 1:13.80 as Interactif reached contention, 2½ lengths back.
Raging Wit, who raced in fifth throughout, challenged from between horses with a quarter-mile to run, but quickly faded. Interactif, who had sealed the victory with a powerful five-wide move into the stretch, comfortably held back a late run from 57-to-1 longshot Codoy.
Codoy outfinished Family Foundation by 2½ lengths for second, and Raging Wit finished fourth.
Gerard and Alain Wertheimer’s homebred Interactif won his career debut going five furlongs on the dirt on July 5 at Monmouth Park. Following an eighth-place finish in the Sanford Stakes (G2) on July 30 at Saratoga Race Course, the Broken Vow colt was switched to the grass and responded with a 4 1/4-length victory in the With Anticipation Stakes (G3) on September 4 in his previous start.
Interactic provided trainer Todd Pletcher with a third victory in the Bourbon Stakes. He sent out Twilight Meteor to victory in 2006 and scored last year with Bittel Road, who also won the With Anticipation prior to the Bourbon. Bittel Road advanced to the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf but finished eighth
Winner of three of his four career starts, Interactif has earned $164,250. He is out of the unraced Broad Brush mare Broad Pennant and is from the family of undefeated champion Personal Ensign.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
