Long On Value (Value Plus), who went agonizingly close to a breakthrough top-level success in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March 2017, was given a cool ride from the latter third of the field by Florent Geroux, found daylight in the long Woodbine stretch and overtook a game Lady Alexander (More Than Ready) to win the GI Highlander S. at Woodbine, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs in November.
A $100,000 acquisition out of last year's Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and allowed to train on, the Virginia-bred Long On Value had one run under his belt for his new connections, a rallying 1 3/4-length success in the June 2 Mighty Beau S. over the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint course and distance. Allowed to linger with about two behind for the opening half-mile, the 2-1 favorite was guided into the clear in upper stretch and made ground quickly down the center. Lady Alexander cantered into the lead under a confident Jose Ortiz with about a furlong to travel and looked on her way to victory, only to be run over late by a neck to the fast-closing Long On Value. While earning a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup, Long On Value would need to be nominated as a horse of racing age. Trainer Brad Cox also won last year's Highlander-then a Grade II-with Green Mask (Mizzen Mast).
Previously campaigned by Hall of Famer Bill Mott on behalf of a partnership including Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber, Long On Value's resume also includes: wins in the 2014 GII Twilight Derby and 2015 GIII Canadian Turf S., and placings in the 2015 GI Maker's 46 Mile S. and 2017 GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile S.
Pedigree Notes:
Michael Wood purchased Long On Value's dam Long Message, in foal to Twirling Candy, for just $10,000 at this year's KEEJAN Sale. The unraced 14-year-old is also represented by a Will Take Charge colt of 2017 and a Twirling Candy colt of 2018. Long Message is a half-sister to two-time stakes winner Long Distance (Expensive Decision).
Saturday, Woodbine
HIGHLANDER S.-GI, C$251,000, Woodbine, 6-30, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:07.13, fm.
1–LONG ON VALUE, 117, h, 7, by Value Plus
1st Dam: Long Message, by Orientate
2nd Dam: Reverse the Call, by Phone Trick
3rd Dam: Pontresina, by Prove Out
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($3,000 Ylg '12 EASSEP; $100,000 6yo '17
KEENOV). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Ten Strike Racing and
Laymon, Steve; B-Snow Lantern Thoroughbreds (VA);
T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. C$150,000. Lifetime Record:
G1SP-UAE, 32-9-5-5, $1,136,253. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”][bullet ad=”ten-strike-racing”][bullet ad=”elite-exacta”]2–Lady Alexandra, 115, f, 4, More Than Ready–Lophorina (GB),
by King's Best. ($150,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $300,000 2yo '16
OBSMAR; $375,000 3yo '17 FTKHRA). O-Heider Family Stables
LLC; B-Brookdale, Jack Swain III & Double K LLC (KY);
T-H. Graham Motion. C$50,000.[bullet ad=”brookdale-co-bred-raised-sold”][bullet ad=”nbs-success”][bullet ad=”lanni-hillndale-purchased”]3–Holding Gold, 123, g, 5, Lonhro (Aus)–In the Gold, by
Golden Missile. O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL);
T-Mark E. Casse. C$25,000.[bullet ad=”mersant-international”][bullet ad=”florida-breds-ftboa”]Margins: NK, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 2.35, 7.50, 3.55.
Also Ran: Abbaa, Belvoir Bay (GB), Imprimis, Axtell, Ikerrin Road (Ire), Corinthia Knight (Ire). Scratched: Boreal Spirit.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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