Agate enters BC Juvenile Turf discussion with Bourbon Stakes victory
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kelsey Danner trained the Dede McGehee homebred More Than Gracious, who, in the final race of a nine-start career, won a $16,000 maiden-claimer at Tampa Bay Downs. Danner trained More Than Gracious’s first foal, Nurse Caralyn, who was claimed from her original connections out of a $7,500 maiden race. Her second foal, Second City Saint, last was seen finishing third on July 2 in a $16,000 maiden-claimer at Colonial Downs.
More Than Gracious was no looker, Danner said, nor is her third foal to race, a narrow-framed, plain bay horse named Agate, a son of Karakontie who was gelded in April, before he raced, owing to some rambunctious behavior. But this foal? This one can run.
On Sunday at Keeneland, sliding through a narrow opening just past the eighth pole, Agate unleashed an electric burst and won the Grade 2, $398,750 Bourbon Stakes. This son of More Than Gracious has run himself right into the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf here at Keeneland.
And the way he finished in the Bourbon, which followed a good third in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile last month, one would think he rates a real Breeders’ Cup chance.
“I think so,” Danner said. “He’s doing really well, he’s athletic, and he’s been sound. Fingers crossed.”
Bold Leadership, the 5-2 favorite, made a belated late run for second, 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner. Real Goodbar got first run on the top two home, but could not quicken with them while holding third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Bold Leadership.
Agate, the second choice, paid $9.28 and ran 1 1/16 miles over a firm course in 1:42.64.
The race unfolded at a rapid tempo, Trim Castle bustling away to a big lead, setting intemperate fractions of 22.39 and 46.27 on the way to a last-place finish. Agate raced from seventh on the inside, Bold Leadership from eighth on the outside before the first two home went their separate ways approaching the homestretch.
Agate, despite finishing well enough for third, had struggled with the Kentucky Downs course, Danner said, bobbling about and never really finding his footing. He traveled differently at Keeneland.
“He’s one of those horses, I had a longer hold on him, just kind of let him figure himself out, but as soon as he switched leads going into the turn, he started to pick it up nicely,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. “I stayed with him when we got into the stretch, we just had to find room, and he responded so well. Amazing turn of foot there.”
Gaffalione initially probed the rail, but when Blaring Ambition came down on Hemingway, Trim Castle going backward while hugging the fence, Gaffalione realized that avenue would close. He steered right, hit a gap between Real Goodbar and Hemingway, and was off to victory.
Bold Leadership, meanwhile, cornered for home on the far outside and lost his way.
“The first part of the race, the whole race, he was doing beautiful, but when it was time to run in the stretch, he kind of looked around a little bit,” jockey Irad Ortiz said. “He’s still learning.”
Bold Leadership didn’t change leads, but once leveled off he came home with good energy. The third foal from the modest mare More Than Gracious already was long gone.
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