Isotherm might have gotten the better of Life Imitates Art by a neck when the pair squared off at Saratoga in August, but the latter exacted his revenge this time around while crossing the wire in front for the first time in his career. Second to then-highly regarded Site Read (Tizdejavu) on debut at the Spa in July, he set the pace before just missing in the aforementioned heat Aug. 22 before hitting the bench. The bay was beaten a nose across the wire in a Belmont special weight Oct. 18, but was moved up to first by the stewards due to interference by the unofficial winner against Life Imitates Art and the next finisher. Life Imitates Art was most recently a neck second in Gulfstream Park West's Pulpit S. Nov. 28, and was one of a pair of Chad Brown charges along with the more-fancied Ray's The Bar looking to provide his conditioner with back-to-back renewals of this event.
Saving all the ground while well-held down the backside, Life Imitates Art inched closer while full of run on the home bend. Switched off the rail for a clear path at the head of the lane, he kicked past one rival and dove back to the inside before just edging out Isotherm in yet another close finish.
“It worked out perfect,” winning rider Joel Rosario said of his trip. “I was trying to save some ground, we had a lot of horse. I was waiting and then hopefully the horse in the front would come in and then maybe I could go out, but he decided to stay outside and then I went outside the other horse. I was just looking for some room. He's a nice horse, trying really hard.”
Brown said of the winner, “He really put it together. Joel fit the horse perfectly and gave him a great ground-saving trip. When he called on the horse, the horse really responded and I'm really proud of him. We've always thought he was one of our better horses. They've got a good turf series here [at Gulfstream] and we'll take a look at what's next. I'm really happy for the owners (Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence)– they've allowed me to be patient with the horses.”
Of sixth-place finisher Ray's The Bar, Brown said, “It was a tale of two trips–he was stuck behind a slow pace and wide. Not the ideal trip for him. He's trained far better than that and we'll draw a line through this, regroup to a different stakes next time.”
Life Imitates Art is out of a half-sister to MGISW Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}). He has a 2-year-old brother by Mineshaft who sold for $250,000 to Shortleaf Stable at KEESEP and a yearling full brother. His dam was bred back to Bernardini.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
DANIA BEACH S.-GIII, $100,000, GP, 1-2, 3yo, 7 1/2fT, 1:30.42, fm.
1–#@LIFE IMITATES ART, 117, c, 3, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Habiboo (MGSP, $190,190), by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Blushing Ogygian, by Ogygian
3rd Dam: Fruhlingshochzeit, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
($175,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables Inc. & William
H. Lawrence; B-Hardacre Farm LLC (FL); T-Chad C. Brown;
J-Joel Rosario. $58,900. Lifetime Record: 5-2-3-0, $150,750.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”brookdale-sold-for-hardacre”][bullet ad=”nick-de-meric-de-meric-stables-graduate”]
2–Isotherm, 120, c, 3, Lonhro (Aus)–Game for More, by More
Than Ready. ($120,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Matthew Schera;
B-H. Allen Poindexter (KY); T-George Weaver. $19,000.[bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”][bullet ad=”ghost-bloodstock-purchased-by-jake-ballis-brendan-heeney-for-matt-schera”]
3–Urban Bourbon, 116, c, 3, City Zip–Fools in Love, by Not For
Love. ($95,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP; $135,000 2yo '15 OBSMAR).
O-Bourbon Lane Stable; B-K & G Stables (KY); T-Eddie
Kenneally. $9,500.[bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”]
Margins: HD, 1HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 3.40, 8.50.
Also Ran: Surgical Strike, Duffle Bag, Ray's The Bar (GB), At the Ready, Mountain Music Man, Copingaway, Fast Karma.
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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