NEWS
Gemologist wins Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes to remain unbeaten
Posted: Saturday, November 26, 2011 7:49 PM
GEMOLOGIST
Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
For video of the Kentucky Jockey Club S., click here.
by Mike Curry
WinStar Farm’s Gemologist capably handled a class test on Saturday in the $178,200 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs to remain undefeated.
Making his stakes debut, the bay Tiznow colt outfinished 8-to-5 favorite Ever So Lucky, pulling away in the final furlong for a 1 3/4-length score under Javier Castellano.
Gemologist stalked the pace from third through a half-mile in :47.49 and launched his winning, four-wide bid leaving the three-eighths pole. Ever So Lucky, who entered off a 3¼-length debut win on November 11 at Churchill and took the lead on the final turn, battled determinedly with the victor in early stretch but could not match strides late and settled for second.
Sent off at 3.30-to-1 odds for trainer Todd Pletcher, Gemologist completed the 1 1/16-mile race for two-year-olds in 1:44.46 on a track rated as fast.
“It’s always exciting when you have a good two-year-old turning three,” Pletcher said. “It kind of gives you something to look forward to when you head south for the winter. We’re always hoping to be back at Churchill in the spring.
“We’ll give him a little bit of a break off that and I’ll get with [WinStar President] Elliott [Walden] and we’ll come up with a game plan. I’d say we’d try to follow a similar path [as 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Super Saver], hopefully two starts before the big race if things go well.”
Gemologist won his career debut on September 24 at Turfway Park and followed with a two-length win in an optional claiming race on October 30 at Churchill. He now has two victories going two turns at Churchill.
“I think it certainly helped to have a race over the track and to have that two-turn experience around there,” Pletcher said of having success at Churchill being a plus for a Derby hopeful. “It always helps when you have some confidence that they’ve handled the surface already.”
WinStar purchased Gemologist in the name of Maverick Racing for $310,000 as a weanling at the 2009 Keeneland November breeding stock sale from the consignment of Lane’s End, agent. He was bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust – 2.
Gemologist is a half brother to stakes winners Clear Destiny and Sydenham. He is one of eight winners from as many starters out of the Mr. Prospector mare Crystal Shard, a full sister to multiple Grade 2 winner and multiple stakes producer Withallprobability. Notable family members include Japanese champion Still in Love and Grade 1 winner One of a Klein and Summer Colony.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Tiz Herself, Calgary, AB on November 27, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Can't wait to see him back as a 3yo. If he stays healthy, he's my Derby pick (early I know, but I really like him). I have this feeling about him... Having Tiznow on top as his sire and from a Mr. Prospector mare, pedigree will not hold this guy back. He already has two wins at Churchill, now a stakes, and before that both at 1 1/16 mile distance, he is moving forward.
Go Gemologist!
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