Carl Spackler. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Fall Stars Saturday at Keeneland
Keeneland Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.–e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ favored Carl Spackler (IRE) went straight to the lead after the start and then held off a late bid from More Than Looks to post a 1-length victory in the 39th running of the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up to win the richest race in Keeneland history.
Other Grade 1 winners on the 11-race program were Gina Romantica in the 27th running of the $750,000 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare for fillies and mares and East Avenue in the 111th running of the $600,000 Claiborne Breeders Futurity for 2-year-olds.
Also capturing stakes on the sun-splashed afternoon were Zeitlos in the 44th running of the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for fillies and mares and Our Shot in the 28th running of the $350,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel for 3-year-olds and up.
In the Coolmore Turf Mile, Carl Spackler provided trainer Chad Brown with his 50th Keeneland stakes victory and first in the race. For jockey Tyler Gaffalione, it is his 30th Keeneland stakes victory and second in the race, having won in 2018 with Next Shares.
Carl Spackler outraced Talk of the Nation and Spirit of St Louis to the first turn and set comfortable fractions of :23.93 and :47.28. On the far turn, Carl Spackler began to open up on the field, hit the top of the stretch in complete control and had more than enough to hold off More Than Looks’ belated bid. He completed the mile in 1:34.23.
With the victory, Carl Spackler earned a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF to be run Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
In winning his second consecutive Grade 1 race, Carl Spackler added $589,000 to his earnings that increased to $1,568,475 with a record of 10-7-1-0. He is a 4-year-old son of Lope de Vega out of the More Than Ready mare Zindaya.
Carl Spackler returned $4.14, $3 and $2.36. More Than Looks, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $3.92 and $2.70 and finished 1¼ lengths in front of Mountain Bear (IRE), who paid $4.64 to show under Chris Hayes.
It was another neck back to Running Bee with Spirit of St Louis, Kikkuli (GB), Cash Equity (FR), Talk of the Nation and Noises Off following in order.
Racing continues Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET with a 10-race program that features three stakes headlined by the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares. The Juddmonte Spinster is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Quotes from the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1)
Tyler Gaffalione (winning rider of Carl Spackler-IRE): “My horse broke alertly (from the outside post). I looked to the inside, and nobody was really in any hurry to get going forward. I didn’t want to take too much away from my horse, so I just put my hands down and let him get comfortable. He proved he was best today. He’s a tremendous athlete.
“All the credit goes to (trainer) Chad (Brown) and his team. They bring these horses over ready to run. (The horses are) so kind; they listen to the cues of the jockeys. He did everything I asked him, and he really turned it on.”
Jose Ortiz (rider of runner-up More Than Looks): “He always breaks a step slow. Going into the first turn, the No. 1 (Mountain Bear-IRE) came with a rush and kind of fanned me out. I feel like that moment could’ve cost me the race. When (More Than Looks) breaks a step slow he’ll put himself in those kind of positions.
“I wish I had a better trip going into the first turn, but he finished running. The horse on the lead (Carl Spackler) went up there, did everything his way and he’s a very nice horse as well. He got us today, so we’ll see what happens in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Chris Hayes (rider of third-place finisher Mountain Bear-IRE): “He likes to take his time. I’m happy with how we went around.”
About the horse being hot in the Paddock: “That’s just a trait of his – he likes to get on with things. In Ireland and England, he can go and leave the paddock early. The razzmatazz gets to him a bit, but he acquitted himself well.”
