Chasing Liberty during the National Thoroughbred League Turf Sprint Sunday at Kentucky Downs. (Grace Clark-Sweet/Kentucky Downs photo)
On DQ of Under Who’s Radar
Kentucky Downs Release
FRANKLIN, Ky. — Chasing Liberty picked up victory in the $1 million National Thoroughbred League Juvenile Turf Sprint when first-place finisher Under Who’s Radar was disqualified for interference in the stretch at Kentucky Downs.
Under Who’s Radar had led all the way and hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front of Chasing Liberty, who had closed through the stretch. Florent Geroux, aboard Chasing Liberty, lodged an objection, saying Under Who’s Radar came over and impeded him.
“I thought we ran a winning race and the steward’s decision was up to them,” said winning trainer Rob Atlas. “Our horse just showed up today regardless of if we were first or second. He ran an awesome race and Flo did a great job. He was still a little bit green, but he showed his ability. He has a lot of talent. I knew it was going to be tough and it was a big ask coming off a maiden win. I was worried it would be too soon to ask for this, but, hey, he showed up.”
Under Who’s Radar led at each call under Jose Ortiz through fractions of 22.03, 45.20 and 1:09.17. After shaking off closest early challengers Williams Empire, Reach for the Rose and Pharoah’s Dynasty, Under Who’s Radar led into the stretch. He looked to be an easy winner until Chasing Liberty and Geroux mounted a furious charge from well off the pace into the seven path at the top of the stretch.
As they neared the wire, Chasing Liberty was in the five path when Under Who’s Radar suddenly veered out toward Chasing Liberty. Under Who’s Radar crossed the wire first, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.65. Reach for the Rose finished another 1 3/4 lengths back in third.
“My horse was making a very nice move on the outside,” Geroux said. “It looked like when Jose hit his horse left-handed, his horse got scared and got erratic and escaped from him and crossed my path. I had to take a strong hold. It’s hard to tell if I’d have beaten him or not. It was very close. At the time I was gaining a lot of momentum. I had to claim foul. In my opinion it was the right call. Because there’s no way to guess where we’d have finished, if we’d have passed him or not. His horse went from like the 2 path to the 5 path.
“It was a great effort. He was a little bit spotty the way he ran. He broke super sharp, and I thought I thought I was going to be second or third. He lost a bit going into the turn and re-rallied in the stretch. He was very brave and still ran greenly. So, I’d think there’s more improvement for this horse.”
Chasing Liberty returned $46.76, $11.64 and $6.66 as the sixth choice.
Ortiz declined comment coming off the track. Trainer Mike Maker relayed their post-race conversation, saying, “Like Jose said, ‘I quit riding. I corrected him, quit riding and he still couldn’t go by.’”
Randy Gullatt of owner-breeder Twin Creek Racing Stables said they were thrilled with Chasing LIberty’s effort whether he was placed first or stayed second.
“We were just excited the horse ran big,” he said. “Those kinds of things are out of our control. You don’t want to root against anyone, but it worked out great for us.”
Including $597,000 to the winner great, dwarfing the $41,895 Chasing Liberty earned winning a turf sprint at Ellis Park in his debut. Even better, he’s a son of the WinStar stallion Constitution, who was campaigned by Twin Creek and WinStar.
“We thought he was the kind you could take to Kentucky Downs and run as a 2-year-old,” Gullatt said. “That was our goal, just getting here was our goal. When a plan like that works out — we’re here to take that shot — is a good accomplishment.”
The highly regarded Black Forza, a Group 2 winner in Britain who was the morning-line favorite but the second choice in betting, was away from the gate last, quickly moved into striking position but had to settle for fourth in the field of nine.
“I missed the break, and I was on the back foot,” said jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. “He is a lot quicker than you think. It could have cost me a place. (He) got a little bit tired working to get there in the first half. May have made the difference.”
Said Black Forza’s trainer, Michael O’Callaghan: “Dylan said he had a bit of ground to make up and he probably made up the ground a little quicker than he expected to. He probably used a little bit of gas early and he said it cost him in the later part of the race. He said he feels like he got faster. The trip stretched him. With a better break we wouldn’t have been far away.”
The post time favorite at about 9-5, Pharoah’s Dynasty, received pre-race attention as a full sibling to 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive. Off his debut victory at Belmont-at-Aqueduct, the son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah tracked the early speed before fading to eighth.
After Black Forza came Bridle a Butterfly, Essay, Complex Music, Pharoah’s Dynasty and Williams Empire.
Joe Sharp Stays Sharp
Joe Sharp won two more races Sunday to bring his meet-leading total to six wins out of 15 starts, teaming with Frankie Dettori to take the opener with Mean Eileen and the seventh with Tyler Gaffalione on Satin Blue.
“We’ve run a lot, but it has been nice. We’re off to a great start,” Sharp said. “It’s one of those deals where we’ve really endured some seconditis over the last six weeks. So it really feels good to have conditions (for races) turn into wins. That’s all it is. These are just horses that have been second at the right venues. These two fillies who won today were second at Saratoga last time. When you keep that condition on that day, it feels terrible. But as time progresses and it comes to fruition at a place like this, with a purse structure like this, it makes it all worthwhile.
The all-time record for wins for a Kentucky Downs meet is the 12 that all-time track leader Mike Maker had in 2012 out of a whopping 66 starts.
“Grateful, obviously, because we’ve put a lot of hard work into it,” Sharp said. “Our team is really strong, and are owners are really committed to this place. It takes a lot to be down here in the context we’re down here. Everyone at Kentucky Downs is super accommodating. I’m very grateful to our help and owners for being as supportive as they are, because it takes a lot to come down here. When you get lucky, it makes it worth it.”
Sharp has always won at least one race at the meet since he started training.
“We’ve been down here thinking we were loaded for bear year after year, win a couple, but just have some unlucky trips, or a lot of rain. Just like today: We got lucky and the weather split us and we had nice firm turf. I think the key to winning here is entering and running a lot. I think if you do that enough, you’ll get years like this.”
Frankie Dettori won two races to tie Jose Ortiz atop the riding standings with five wins.
