NEWS
Sabercat strikes with sweeping rally in Delta Downs Jackpot
Posted: Saturday, November 19, 2011 7:30 PM
SABERCAT
Coady Photography
For video of the Delta Downs Jackpot S., click here.
by Mike Curry
Sabercat overcame trouble to extend his winning streak to three with a convincing four-length win in the $1-million Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3) on Saturday, and in doing so the Bluegrass Cat colt put himself in strong position for the 2012 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
The $600,000 winner’s share almost certainly will guarantee Sabercat a spot in the starting gate for the 2012 Derby, which is restricted to 20 starters with graded stakes earnings used to determine the field. Of course, the classics are a long way off but Sabercat’s Delta Downs Jackpot performance certainly was an eye-opener.
The winner trailed the 10-horse field under Gerard Melancon after My Adonis and Drill dueled through a blistering half-mile in :45.41 in the 1 1/16-mile race. Sabercat started his winning bid entering the final turn but had to wait in traffic for running room. Melancon guided Sabercat to the outside on the turn and he swept powerfully to the front before surging away to a facile win.
Sabercat completed the distance in 1:46.62 on a track rated as fast for trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, which purchased the dark bay or brown colt for $120,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale.
The winner’s share boosted Sabercat’s career earnings to $681,420 with three wins from six starts. After failing to win in his first three races, Sabercat broke through with a half-length triumph in a maiden special weight race in September and entered the Delta Downs Jackpot off a six-length romp in the Garden State Stakes in October, both at Monmouth Park.
Basmati finished second for trainer Doug O’Neill and earned $200,000. The Borrego colt entered off a front-running maiden special weight win on October 28 at Santa Anita Park, which followed a fifth-place finish in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and a fourth-place finish in the Norfolk Stakes (G1). Longview Drive, last at the five-sixteenths pole closed willingly for third.
Del Mar Futurity winner and Norfolk runner-up Drill faded to seventh as the 2.20-to-1 favorite after contesting the hot early pace.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
