Paul Pompa, Jr.'s Connect, an impressive winner of back-to-back starts this spring, turned back favored stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Gift Box to win the stake named for his sire. The $150,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase was third in a fast maiden race to start his career Dec. 5 at Aqueduct, then dominated by four lengths in the mud May 7 at Belmont and scored easily once again on the GI Belmont S. undercard June 11. Breaking sharply from the rail as the 7-4 second choice in the Friday feature, Connect moved through at the rail to set a moderate pace of :24.06 and :48.43. Leaving the rail open on the far turn, he encountered a challenge from Gift Box on the latter part of the bend and the two of them arrived at the top of the lane together. Called upon by John Velazquez, Connect responded gamely and repelled the bid of his barnmate, edging away inside the eighth pole to a one-length decision. Forever d'Oro finished a non-threatening third. The winner is a half to Tani Maru (Cherokee Run), MSW, $223,515. His unraced dam is a half to GSW and sire Native Regent (Vice Regent) and MGSP runners Royal Fair (Deputy Minister) and Morriston Belle (Herat). Bullville Belle is responsible for a 2-year-old Tizway colt and foaled an Uncle Mo colt this term.
CURLIN S., $100,000, SAR, 7-29, (NW1SRY), 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.69, ft.
1–#CONNECT, 119, c, 3, by Curlin">Curlin
1st Dam: Bullville Belle, by Holy Bull
2nd Dam: Barkerville Belle, by Ruthie's Native
3rd Dam: Celebrity Belle, by Star Envoy
($150,000 Ylg '14 FTKJUL). O-Paul P. Pompa, Jr.; B-Fox Straus
KY (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-John R. Velazquez. $60,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $165,000.[bullet ad=”vanmeter-uhhh-yeah”][bullet ad=”xavier-yearling-purchase”][bullet ad=”lynwood-stable-graduate”]2–Gift Box, 119, r, 3, Twirling Candy–Special Me, by Unbridled's
Song. ($135,000 Wlg '13 FTKNOV). O-W.S. Farish; B-Machmer
Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $20,000.[bullet ad=”machmerhall-bredbybornraised”][bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”]3–Forever d'Oro, 117, c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Lemons Forever, by
Lemon Drop Kid. O/B-Charles E. Fipke (KY); T-Dallas Stewart.
$10,000.[bullet ad=”mckathan-brothers-training-grad”]Margins: 1, 3, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.75, 1.00, 26.50.
Also Ran: Ready Dancer, Dolphus, Majesto, Swipe. Scratched: Uncle Vinny.
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