Cafe Americano covered stacks of ground in Saturday's GIII Pucker Up S. at Arlington, but overcame that in-race adversity to close out a truly memorable afternoon for trainer Chad Brown, who swept the day's four graded events. Owner Peter Brant was winning his second of the day, having watched his champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) successfully defend her title in the GI Beverly D. S. about two hour prior.
Drawn awkwardly outside in gate 11, Cafe Americano was bumped at the break, but was nonetheless able to get over to the rails to save ground passing under the wire the first time. More than happy to bide her time from the back of the field as 80-1 Sky Flight (Sky Mesa) set a decent clip in advance of Hatoof S. winner Indigo Gin (Lemon Drop Kid). Still quietly ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. as they reached the end of the backstretch, Café Americano was committed to an overland trip around the turn, was spun seven or eight wide into the lane, took command with a rush entering the final furlong and pulled clear. Princess Carolina, also wide on the bend, just held for second over Canadian raider Art of Almost.
Sporting a race record similar to that of the Secretariat winner, the $625,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase graduated going a mile over the Gulfstream turf Feb. 9, went missing and returned with a Belmont allowance tally June 1. The bay was most recently sixth to Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy) in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. in which she was bothered and carried out on the backstretch, then raced mostly evenly thereafter.
Pedigree Notes:
Medaglia d'Oro made it two stakes winners on the day when Cafe Americano won the GIII Pucker Up S. and Goldwood won Monmouth's Incredible Revenge S. Of course, that's nothing new for the sire of 132 stakes winners who has been perennially at or near the top of the leading sires list since his first crop in 2006 included Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Cafe Americano's dam was herself the 2012 champion older mare and sprinter in Canada and sold for $850,000 as a racing or broodmare prospect at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky's Winter Mixed Sale in 2013. Cafe Americano, her second foal, brought $625,000 at Keeneland September in 2017 and the mare has since produced a 2017 filly by Empire Maker, a 2018 filly by Curlin, and a 2019 colt by Gun Runner. Yearlings by Cafe Americano's damsire Indian Charlie were a hot commodity at the recent Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale and included the first session's $1 million topper. Indian Charlie's daughters have produced 55 stakes winners, including this year's GI Metropolitan H. winner Mitole (Eskendereya) and GII Oaklawn H. victor Quip (Distorted Humor).
Saturday, Arlington
PUCKER UP S.-GIII, $100,000, Arlington, 8-10, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.72, fm.
1–CAFE AMERICANO, 118, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro&log=">Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Roxy Gap (Ch. Female Sprinter, Ch. Older Mare-Can, MGSW, $952,790, by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Harts Gap, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: Special Test, by Hawkin's Special
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($625,000
Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $56,400. Lifetime Record:
4-3-0-0, $149,800. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Princesa Carolina, 118, f, 3, Tapit–Pure Clan, by Pure Prize.
O/B-Three Chimneys Farm (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$18,800.
3–Art of Almost, 118, f, 3, Dansili (GB)–Reimpose, by First
Defence. (€150,000 RNA Wlg '16 ARQDEC; $145,000 RNA 2yo
'18 FTFMAR). O/B-Fred Seitz, Dr. Ted Folkerth, J.R. Ward
Stables & Jon Kelly (KY); T-Roger L. Attfield. $10,340.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 3. Odds: 2.70, 5.00, 2.90.
Also Ran: Winter Sunset, Winning Envelope, Indigo Gin, Lightscameraaction, Gamblin Train, Comic Kitten, Aunt Hattie (Ire), Sky Freak. Scratched: Mercilla.
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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