There was a suitably Japanese flair to the GIII Appalachian S. presented by the Japan Racing Association Sunday at Keeneland as The Mackem Bullet (Ire) relished soft going and ran away in the stretch to earn her first black-type success for owner Katsumi Yoshida.
A third out victress last summer at Carlisle in Great Britain, the bay was third at 20-1 in the G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. July 28 at Ascot and was a narrow runner-up twice at 25-1 in the G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. Aug. 23 at York and G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. Sept. 29 at Newmarket. Shipped over for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, she had some early trouble before finishing an even sixth. Dominating a Turfway optional claimer after being switched to Wesley Ward from Brian Ellison Dec. 31, she was last seen running fourth against males in the John Battaglia Memorial S. there Feb. 15.
Made the third choice back in with her own sex here, The Mackem Bullet tracked from second through strong splits for the boggy course of :24.14 and :49.21. Given her cue three furlongs from home, she swept to the lead soon after straightening and burst clear past the eighth pole. Second favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory put in a strong late bid, but The Mackem Bullet had already fled the scene and remained clear to the line.
“She's really done well here over the winter,” said Ward. “I always thought she'd probably prefer the grass. She had a beautiful breeze here last week over the grass. There was a little question mark about the surface today but I spoke to trainer Brian Ellison in England twice and he assured me she'd be OK, and she was. When Brian sent her to me, the idea was to go back to the [G1 English One Thousand] Guineas, so we'll have to see what they want to do. I'm lucky they chose me to train her.”
Pedigree Notes:
The Mackem Bullet is the fourth stakes winner and second graded stakes winner for the late dual Group 1-winning sprinter Society Rock, following up 2017 G1 Deauville Prix Morny winner Unfortunately (Ire) in the latter category. Her dam, once a winner in 10 career starts, is a half-sister to Japanese MGSW/G1SP Bounce Shasse (Jpn) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}), GSWs Moonquake (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}) and Contra Check (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and MG1SP Stubbs Art (Ire) (Hawk Wing). Her second dam is a half to MGSW Just James (GB) (Spectrum {Ire}). Elkmait is responsible for a yearling filly by Mehmas (Ire).
Sunday, Keeneland
APPALACHIAN S. PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION-GII, $200,000, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:39.31, sf.
1–THE MACKEM BULLET (IRE), 118, f, 3, by Society Rock (Ire)
1st Dam: Elkmait (GB), by Trade Fair (GB)
2nd Dam: Rich Dancer (GB), by Halling
3rd Dam: Fairy Flight (Ire), by Fairy King
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (£9,000 Ylg
'17 GOUKSI). O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Tallyho Stud (IRE);
T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: G1SP-Eng, 10-3-2-2, $305,358. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Regal Glory, 118, f, 3, Animal Kingdom–Mary's Follies, by
More Than Ready. O/B-Paul P Pompa, Jr. (KY); T-Chad C.
Brown. $40,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
3–Princesa Carolina, 118, f, 3, Tapit–Pure Clan, by Pure Prize.
O/B-Three Chimneys Farm (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$20,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 6.60, 3.10, 7.90.
Also Ran: Hard Legacy, Winning Envelope, Primela (Fr), Catch a Thrill, Clause, Angel Alessandra, Naughty Joker, Beautiful Ballad.
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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