By Christie DeBernardis
ELMONT, NY – 'TDN Rising Star' Guarana (Ghostzapper) proved her ultra-impressive debut victory was no fluke with a dominant score in Belmont's GI Acorn S. A dazzling 14 3/4-length winner in her Keeneland unveiling Apr. 19, she was favored at 9-5 over GI Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress (Alternation) in this big step up in class. Sitting in a three-wide fourth early as the Oaks victress blazed through an opening quarter in :21.89, the bay was tucked in a bit, sitting just off the rail in third as Serengeti Empress continued her sizzling pace, putting up a half in :43.99. Biding her time on the backstretch run, Guarana tipped out to tackle the leader turning for home. The top two betting choices dueled for a few strides, but Guarana easily dispatched her more seasoned rival in the final furlong, powering clear to a six-length victory in a new track record of 1:33.53. Serengeti Empress held second over Jeltrin (Tapizar).
“She reminds me a lot of her father [Ghostzapper], so it's extra special to me having worked so closely with Ghostzappper and learning under Bobby [Frankel],” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “To have his daughter, who is equally as brilliant hopefully under our care is an incredible feeling. I'm a very lucky guy.”
He continued, “I felt really good because I thought there would be a strong pace. I just wanted her to break cleanly and be near the front. I didn't feel like she needed to be on the front. Honestly, I was surprised she was on the front in her race at Keeneland. I expected her to win, but she never had blazing speed in the morning. I thought she would rate in that race. She's always trained kind. I wasn't concerned about her rating at all.”
Winning rider Jose Ortiz, who took off Serengeti Empress to ride the winner, said, “She broke great. I thought the moment she broke she could make the lead, but then I saw that the 1 [Serengeti Empress] and 3 [Cookie Dough] went on and I was able to drop in behind them. It was the first time she dropped behind. Her first race she went wire to wire, but she's very classy. All I can say is wow!”
Saturday, Belmont Park
ACORN S.-GI, $700,000, Belmont, 6-8, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:33.58, ft.
1–GUARANA, 115, f, 3, by Ghostzapper&hid=10633">Ghostzapper
1st Dam: Magical World, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Pleasant Home, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Our Country Place, by Pleasant Colony
*1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Three Chimneys Farm; B-Three Chimneys Farm (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $375,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $422,400. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
2–Serengeti Empress, 123, f, 3, by Alternation
1st Dam: Havisham, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Love Dancing (Arg), by Salt Lake
3rd Dam: Le Midi (Arg), by Fitzcarraldo (Arg)
($25,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Joel Politi; B-Tri Eques Bloodstock, LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss. $130,000.
3–Jeltrin, 121, f, 3, by Tapizar
1st Dam: Song to the Moon, by Successful Appeal
2nd Dam: Foxy Friend, by Crafty Friend
3rd Dam: Gerri n Jo Go, by Top Command
($7,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP; $27,000 RNA 2yo '18 OBSAPR). O-Alexis Delgado; B-C Kidder, N Cole, J K & Linda Griggs (KY); T-Alexis Delgado. $70,000.
Margins: 6, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 1.90, 3.20, 46.00.
Also Ran: Ce Ce, Queen of Beas, Proud Emma, Bell's the One, Cookie Dough, Fancy Dress Party.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
Guarana is the second foal and second winner out of Phipps homebred Magical World, who is a daughter of GI Breeders' Cup distaff winner Pleasant Home. Her year-younger half-sister Magic Dance (More Than Ready) just earned 'TDN Rising Star' status Friday for a good-looking debut win for Three Chimneys Farm and trainer Steve Asmussen at Churchill Downs. Magical World's most recent produce is a yearling colt by Pioneerof the Nile born May 5 of last year. This is also the family of champion Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}); MGISWs Point of Entry (Dynaformer), Pine Island (Arch) and Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat); and MGSW Country Hideaway (Seeking the Gold). Guarana is the 36th graded winner and 69th black-type winner for her sire Ghostzapper.
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