Stanford Goes The Distance In Charles Town Classic

Stanford Coady photography

In 2012, trainer Todd Pletcher took a chance in the GII Charles Town Classic with Caixa Eletronica (Arromanches) and the popular chestnut obliged, carring Javier Castellano to a two-length victory at odds of 8-1. The betting public were more accepting of Pletcher's 2016 challenger, the well-bred Stanford (Malibu Moon), backing him into odds of 7-2 and the handsome 4-year-old came through for his supporters with a wire-to-wire success. Blue-collar Pennsylvania-bred Page McKenney (Eavesdropper), third to Moreno (Ghostzapper) in last year's renewal, improved by one spot after giving game chase throughout to add to his seven-figure bankroll. Favored 'TDN Rising Star' Donworth (Tiznow) endured a tough trip for the latter two-thirds of the race and was one-paced late in third.

“He broke very sharp and there wasn't that much speed in the race,” the winning jockey commented. “He broke well and I just enjoyed the ride. I thought the fractions were pretty comfortable.”

Pletcher indicated that he had no specific plans for the winner, but said the $1.25-million GI Met Mile could be under consideration. The Met is the second-richest event on Belmont S. day June 11.

A $120,000 acquisition by Dona Licha Stables at the 2013 Keeneland September sale, Stanford was consigned by Raul Reyes's King's Equine to the 2014 Barretts March Sale, where he was one of three horses to work an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 before being hammered down to Pletcher for $550,000, the fourth highest-priced offering of the auction.

A Gulfstream allowance winner to kick off his sophomore season, Stanford was disqualified from an apparent runner-up effort to stablemate Materiality (Afleet Alex) in the Islamorada H. ahead of a desperately unlucky loss at the hands of International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus) in the GII Louisiana Derby. Winner of the Long Branch S. at Monmouth a couple of starts later, he was shelved off a fifth in the restricted Curlin S. at Saratoga July 31 and had two runs this term, both second and both to stablemates. Beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Tommy Macho (Macho Uno) in the GIII Fred W. Hooper S. Feb. 6, he most recently dropped a head decision to Blofeld (Quality Road) in the Mar. 5 GII Gulfstream Park H.

Stanford was sent immediately into the lead by Castellano, and although he was pressed along to his outside by Page McKenney, set only a modest gallop through opening fractions of :24.75 and :48.86. Still well within the grasp of his rider through three-quarters in 1:13.75, Stanford repelled the challenge of Page McKenney entering the final furlong, opened some daylight on that rival and held clear to the wire. Favored Donworth raced inside early, but was guided into the clear down the stretch for the first time. Very wide for the remainder of the trip, he looked like he might challenge turning for home, but peaked on his run and settled for third.

The winner's third dam is responsible for Johannesburg (Hennessy), Europe's champion colt of 2001 who carried Michael Tabor's silks to a victory in that year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park. Rosy Humor is the dam of the current 2-year-old colt Hedge Fund (Super Saver).

Saturday, Charles Town
CHARLES TOWN CLASSIC S.-GII, $1,250,000, CT, 4-23, 4yo/up,
1 1/8m, 1:50.55, ft.
1–@STANFORD, 118, c, 4, by Malibu Moon
1st Dam: Rosy Humor, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Show Me the Roses, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Myth, by Ogygian
($120,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '14 BARMAR).
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC, Susan Magnier, Michael B. Tabor &
Derrick Smith; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher;
J-Javier Castellano. $702,000. Lifetime Record: 11-4-4-0,
$1,111,800. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”kings-equine-double-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″][bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”]2–Page McKenney, 120, g, 6, Eavesdropper–Winning Grace, by
Yarrow Brae. O-Adam Staple & Jalin Stable; B-Dr. James E
Bryant & Linda P Davis (PA); T-Mary E. Eppler. $234,000.
3–Donworth, 118, c, 4, Tiznow–Temple Street, by Street Cry (Ire).
'TDN Rising Star' ($550,000 3yo '15 KEENOV). O-Reddam Racing LLC;
B-K.C. Garrett Farm LLC (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $117,000.[bullet ad=”albina-mating”][bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”][bullet ad=”crestwood-foaledraised”][bullet ad=”stonestreet-trainingalum”]Margins: 2, 1 3/4, NK. Odds: 3.70, 6.00, 2.30.
Also Ran: Imperative, S'maverlous, International Star, Hard Aces, Sonny Inspired, Charitable Annuity, La Macchina. Scratched: Incremental. 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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