Oscar Performance made good on a “TDN Rising Star” worthy graduation last time out with an impressive effort to score his first graded win. Seizing the early advantage, the chalk ticked off opening splits of :23.55 and :48.98 from the fence under a motionless Jose Ortiz. As the he showed the way into the lane, the only question was how much the bay would win by and he sailed a home a much the best six-length victor. It was the second win of the day for Ortiz, who upset Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) with 9-1 shot Ectot (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}) in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.
“You hope that he wasn't going to get pressured,” winning trainer Brian Lynch said. “Today, he got a nice first quarter and then he was able to relax. When I saw the second-quarter come up 48-and-change for the half, I knew he found his stride and he's just comfortable going and he'd be hard to catch from there.”
The conditioner added, “I think it was a decent field behind him, so there's plenty to look forward to. I'd certainly say he's on the wagon headed that way [to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf].”
Bumped at the start of his Saratoga debut July 23, Oscar Performance showed some late interest to be sixth. He returned with a monster performance at the Spa Aug. 20, taking the field from gate to wire to earn his diploma by an emphatic 10 1/4 lengths under Ortiz.
Pedigree Notes:
Out of Amerman Racing's stakes winner Devine Actress, Oscar Performance is a full-brother to Ken and Sarah Ramsey's GIII Spiral S. victor Oscar Nominated, who most recently captured the Dueling Grounds Derby Sept. 11. The 11-year-old mare has a yearling filly by Point of Entry and produced a colt by Ghostzapper on GI Kentucky Derby Day May 7. She was bred back to Flatter.
Saturday, Belmont Park
PILGRIM S.-GIII, $200,000, BEL, 10-1, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.88, yl.
1–#@OSCAR PERFORMANCE, 118, c, 2, by Kitten's Joy
1st Dam: Devine Actress (SW, $107,300), by Theatrical (Ire)
2nd Dam: Devine Beauty, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Magical Holiday, by Slew o' Gold
'TDN Rising Star' O-Amerman Racing LLC; B-Mrs. Jerry Amerman (KY); T-Brian A.
Lynch; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0,
$170,132. *Full to Oscar Nominated, GSW, $628,095.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”berkelhammer-earlyprep”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–J. S. Choice, 118, c, 2, Congrats–Oil Empress, by Empire
Maker. ($75,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-KRA Stud Farm;
B-Greenwood Lodge Farm Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
$40,000.
[bullet ad=”greenwoodlodge-bredraisedsold”]3–Kitten's Cat, 118, c, 2, Kitten's Joy–Brushwork, by Discreet
Cat. O/B-Kenneth L. Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Joe
Sharp. $20,000.
[bullet ad=”eqb-cardioclient”][bullet ad=”webb-carroll-another-wctc-grad”]Margins: 6, 3/4, 2. Odds: 1.70, 6.00, 7.20.
Also Ran: Frostmourne, My Bo Chop (Fr), Oiseau de Guerre, Bookew Bucks, Sir Douglas. Scratched: Cohen's Kat, Bird's Eye View, Thirst for Victory. 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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