Orbolution Gives Orb a First BTW in the P. G. Johnson

Orbolution | Sarah K Andrew photo

Pounded into 3-4 favoritism for Thursday's P.G. Johnson S. at Saratoga, StarLadies Racing's Orbolution sat a trip nearly identical to that of her victorious turf debut over course and distance July 23, saving ground from a low draw and accelerating through at the rail before going on to a powerful victory and becoming the first black-type winner for her first-crop sire (by Malibu Moon).

Able to drop down onto the fence soon after the start, the $370,000 Keeneland September purchase enjoyed the run of the race behind a very slow pace. Traveling on the bridle around the far turn, she was right on the back of the leaders exiting the bend and when the gap came for her, she exploded through and sprinted home to score convincingly. As she did in her debut, she raced greenly through the final furlong, switching leads a couple of times. The outposted Wild N Ready raced wide on both turns and finished willingly for second while covering 53 feet more than the winner, per Trakus data. Sassy Sienna endured the second-widest journey (+48) and kept on well for third.

A debut third as the favorite at Keeneland Apr. 27, Orbolution rounded out the triple in a five-furlong Belmont maiden rained off the lawn May 25. She graduated with authority over course and distance July 23 and doubled her win tally in style Thursday.

“I trained the mare, My Rachel, and she was nice on the turf, so we weren't surprised that she ended up on the turf,” commented winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “She was training pretty well on the dirt and she was precocious. She was ready to go early. Once we got the opportunity to put her on the grass, it allowed her to show what she's capable of.”

A half-sister to a pair of black-type performers, Orbolution is out of a Grade III-placed half-sister to GISW turfer Jack Milton (War Front) and to GSW Peace Preserver (War Front). Orbolution's yearling half-sister by the late City Zip is consigned as hip 1762 to the upcoming Keeneland September sale. My Rachel produced a filly by Declaration of War earlier this year and was bred back to Honor Code.

P. G. JOHNSON S., $100,000, SAR, 8-31, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:43.18, fm.
1–#ORBOLUTION, 120, f, 2, by Orb
1st Dam: My Rachel (GSP, $138,285), by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
2nd Dam: Preserver, by Forty Niner
3rd Dam: Berth, by Believe It
($370,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-StarLadies Racing; B-Hinkle Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-2, $125,800. *First stakes winner for freshman sire (by Malibu Moon). **1/2 to Firehouse Red (Arch), MSP; and Rachel's Ready (More Than Ready), MSP.[bullet ad=”hinkle-farms-bred-raised-sold”][bullet ad=”hinklefarms-congratsstarladiesracingandfbrothers”][bullet ad=”hinklefarms-hip1762keesep2017″]2–Wild N Ready, 116, f, 2, More Than Ready–D'wild Ride, by D'wildcat. ($190,000 Ylg '16 FTSAUG). O-Robert E Masterson; B-SF Racing LLC (KY); T-Mark E Casse. $20,000. [bullet ad=”dromoland-hip1614keesep2017″][bullet ad=”eaton-sold”]3–Sassy Sienna, 120, f, 2, Midshipman–Tap for Gold, by Pleasant Tap. ($65,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Haymarket Farm LLC (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $10,000. [bullet ad=”machmerhall-damrecommendedforprivatepurchase”][bullet ad=”vinery-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”eqb-yearlingauctionpurchase”]Margins: 4 3/4, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.75, 8.80, 6.30.
Also Ran: Mentality, Romantic Babe, Life Time Citizen, Oldfashioned Style.

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