2nd-MEY, $75,000, Alw, 1-14, 3yo, f, 1400m, 1:24.26, ft.
POLAR RIVER (f, 3, Congrats–Bayou Tortuga, by Empire Maker) built on a 13 1/2-length debut maiden win at Meydan Dec. 3–in which she earned 'TDN Rising Star' status–when taking Thursday's UAE 1000 Guineas prep over the same track in captivating style. Stalking the pace one path off the fence while Godolphin's G2 Rockfel S. winner Promising Run (Hard Spun) cut out the running, Polar River switched leads at the top of the lane under Pat Dobbs and powered past Promising Run to win with ease. Polar River will be the overwhelming favorite for the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas at Meydan Feb. 11. “Pat said she didn't have a clue in behind, the first time really getting any kickback, but he said the minute she got some daylight she just took off,” said winning trainer Doug Watson. When asked if he'd ever had a 3-year-old as good as Polar River, Watson said, “not even close.”
“I feel fortunate to have a horse this nice with this much potential and hopefully we can go forward and do the right thing with her,” he said. “The Guineas is the next choice and that's about a month away, which will be perfect for her. She's not an overly big filly so she'll have a nice easy time going into that but that's the next goal. The Oaks trip shouldn't be a problem either.” Polar River's dam, Bayou Tortuga, has a 2-year-old filly by Flatter and a yearling colt by The Factor. She is due to foal to Twirling Candy this year. Sales history: $25,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP; $40,000 2yo OBSAPR '15. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $65,423. Click for the Racing Post Chart or VIDEO.
O-Valentin Bukhtoyarov & Evgeny Kappushev; B-Bob McCann, Mark Kelder, Doug Richards; T-Doug Watson.
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