Annapolis outlasts Portfolio Company in Pilgrim Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. - Two starts, two different styles, two victories for Annapolis.
After beating maidens with a strong turn of foot from off the pace in his debut at Saratoga, Annapolis sat a close-up second in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim Stakes and outfought a stubborn Portfolio Company to win by a head.
It was five lengths back to Limited Liability in third. Doctor Jeff finished last in a four-horse field from which Midnight Worker and City At Night were scratched.
The victory likely earned the top two finishers a trip to Del Mar for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5.
Annapolis was sent off the 3-5 favorite based on his impressive debut triumph. Irad Ortiz Jr. had Annapolis break running and wound up stalking Portfolio Company, who made an easy lead under Joel Rosario. Doctor Jeff, the expected other speed, broke outward at the start and was kept off the pace by Jose Lezcano, outside of Limited Liability.
Coming to the quarter pole, Annapolis, on the outside, confronted Portfolio Company and the two threw it down the length of the stretch before Annapolis prevailed.
Annapolis, a son of War Front owned by Bass Racing and trained by Todd Pletcher, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.04 and returned $3.30. He received an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I knew the pace wasn’t going to be too fast, I warmed him up good and tried to be close to the pace,” Ortiz said. “I ended up going second and [stalk] the horse I had to beat and just go from there. He fought all the way to the wire. That was a nice race.”
Ortiz had ridden Portfolio Company in his first two starts. Rosario was riding him for the first time Sunday. Portfolio Company was a bit more settled than he had been previously, but Rosario said when Annapolis moved toward him, it made Rosario had to ask his horse earlier than he wanted.
“Turning for home the other horse moved a little bit early to engage me to keep moving forward a little more than I wanted,” Rosario said. “That probably cost some momentum.”
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