NEWS
Eldaafer punches Breeders’ Cup ticket with Turfway Park win
Posted: Saturday, September 11, 2010 9:27 PM
ELDAAFER
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For video of the Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes, click here.
by Myra Lewyn
Eldaafer cemented his credentials for another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G3) as he powered from just off the pace and held on to win the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes (G3) on Saturday.
The five-year-old A.P. Indy gelding put to rest any doubts about his ability on synthetic surfaces with his half-length victory over Falling Knife. Although he failed to finish in the top three in three previous starts on a synthetic surface, including his seventh-place finish in the 1¾-mile Breeders’ Cup Marathon last year on the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park, he would not be denied in Saturday’s 1½-mile race as he dug in to repel the determined closing bid of the 16-to-1 longshot.
Eldaafer, the 2.30-to-1 favorite, covered the distance under Jon Court in 2:32.55 and earned a starting berth for this year’s $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon on the dirt at Churchill Downs on November 5 via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
Trained by Delaware Park-based Diane Alvarado, Eldaafer won for the third time from nine starts this season. He entered the race off a one-length win in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming race on August 21 on the turf at Laurel Park, and earlier this year at Belmont Park won a starter allowance at the same distance on the main track. The Belmont win was followed by a third-place finish in the Brooklyn Handicap (G2), a race he won last year by a nose at 17.10-to-1 odds.
Smarten Destiny dictated the pace through a half-mile in :49.84 as Formulaforsuccess chased from second and Eldaafer tracked from third, then fourth, within two lengths. Formulaforsuccess took over through a mile in 1:39.78, and Court advanced his mount into ideal striking position in third.
The dark bay or brown gelding challenged four wide with three furlongs to run and sealed the victory when he seized command at the quarter pole.
Grade 3 winner Atoned, who broke in the air, charged from last to take third, another neck back.
Eldaafer, who is owned by Alghuwayriyah Stable, improved his career record to eight wins and five thirds in 23 career starts. The $59,520 winner’s share of the purse boosted his lifetime bankroll to $408,132.
“We want to take him [to the Breeders’ Cup],” Alvarado said after the race. “We’ll take him back to Delaware, maybe Monday, and see how he comes out of this race.”
One of 59 winners and six stakes winner this year for Lane’s End’s elite sire A.P. Indy, who has 132 stakes winners overall, Eldaafer is a former Shadwell Stable colorbearer out of multiple Grade 1 winner Habibti, by Tabasco Cat, from the family of 1995 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Gal in a Ruckus. Alghuwayriyah Stable claimed Eldaafer for $20,000 in January 2009 and transferred him to Alvarado’s care at Delaware Park several months later.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
