Papilio rallies from far off the pace to take the Appalachian (JennyPhoto/Past The Wire)
Keeneland Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— D. J. Stable, Medallion Racing and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Papilio (IRE) rallied from far off the pace and then held off a late charge from Cairo Consort by a neck to win the Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association.
Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Javier Castellano, Papilio covered the mile on a turf course rated as good in 1:36.32.
It is the third victory in the race for both Casse and Castellano. Casse won in 2016 with Catch a Glimpse and repeated in 2017 with La Coronel. Castellano won with Dayatthespa in 2012 and Rushing Fall in 2018.
Heavenly Sunday led the field of nine through uncontested fractions of :23.50, :48.27 and 1:12.86 with Well Into and Pleasant Passage in closest pursuit while Papilio raced near the back of the pack. Entering the far turn, Papilio was next to last but began to inch closer between horses midway on the turn and came widest of all for clear running at the top of the stretch.
Heavenly Sunday put away Well Into at midstretch and maintained her lead until the final 50 yards when Papilio and Cairo Consort surged past.
Papilio is an Irish-bred daughter of Starspangledbanner (AUS) out of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Glafyra. Starting her career in Ireland last year, Papilio was making her second U.S. start following a runner-up finish in the Herecomesthebride (G3) last month at Gulfstream Park.
She added $176,700 to her bankroll that rose to $258,700 with a record of 7-3-2-0.
Papilio returned $13.98, $5.84 and $4.14. Cairo Consort, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., returned $4.52 and $2.96 and finished a length in front of Heavenly Sunday, who paid $3.72 to show under Florent Geroux.
It was another length back to Well Into, who was followed in order by favored Pleasant Passage, Sabalenka, Be Your Best (IRE), Alpha Bella and Beautifulnavigator (IRE).
Quotes for the $400,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association
Mark Casse (winning trainer of Papilio-IRE): “I didn’t draw up (the plan for her to come from far back). I always tell them, ‘How many races have you won? ‘Cause I’ve won zero riding,’ so I don’t really give them many instructions. She has an amazing turn of foot. If she ever learns to run a straight line, who knows how good she is? She isn’t really a tricky filly. She’s actually a sweetie. She just runs in different directions. I think once she ‘gets it’ around here she’s going to be very tough. So, keep your fingers crossed and we’ll head to Churchill after this. Today was big. Yesterday was a rough day (going 0-for-5 including in three stakes); you go home licking your wounds. Today’s a better day.”
Javier Castellano (winning rider): “She really (picked it up). I like the way she did it today. I rode her like a European horse: covered up, covered up until the top of the stretch and let her see the finish line. I liked the way she picked it up quick, the way she finished really good. I didn’t have to use her much – just pilot a little bit all the way to the wire. She really did (duck in a little bit late). She saw the finish line, all the crowd – I think she was looking around a little bit. I was very happy. I liked the way she did it. Very satisfied.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of runner-up Cairo Consort): “Beautiful trip, can’t complain. We just got beat today. (At the gate before the start) I jumped off because she’s a little like that. I know her. I’ve been doing that the past couple times, so why not today?”
Florent Geroux (rider of third-place finisher Heavenly Sunday): “The trip was really easy, it went very good. I took command and was going to slow it down a bit on the backside. She tried hard and went good.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of beaten favorite and fifth-place finisher Pleasant Passage): “She was in a good position. She just didn’t really fire today, but she pulled up good and came back happy, so we live to fight another day.”
