Boppy O upsets Talk of the Nation in Jersey Derby
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From Louisville, Kentucky, to Oceanport, New Jersey, it was a good day for Mark Casse-trained 3-year-old turf horses.
Two hours after odds-on favorite Webslinger won the Audubon Stakes for the Casse barn at Churchill Downs, Boppy O beat odds-on favorite Talk of the Nation by 1 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park.
Favored at 1-5 for jockey Paco Lopez and trainer Shug McGaughey, Talk of the Nation had been scratched during the warm-up period for the American Turf on May 6 at Churchill Downs. Making his first start March 11, the colt probably just was too fresh Saturday. Pulling very hard around the first turn and down the backstretch while snugged back behind the pacesetters, Talk of the Nation finally relaxed a bit just before the half-mile split was posted in 46.69.
But the damage already had been done. In the clear and outside with three furlongs to run, Talk of the Nation didn’t pass the two tiring pacesetters as quickly as he should have, and even as he was making the lead at the top of the stretch, Lopez cast a concerned glance over his right shoulder.
There was reason for concern. Boppy O had broken on top from post 1 but lacked speed and settled sixth of seven while saving ground under Isaac Castillo. Coming off the rail and into the No. 4 path between the five-sixteenths marker and the head of the homestretch, Boppy O was striding longer and stronger than Talk of the Nation, who offered no response as Boppy O drew abreast in the final sixteenth and went on to victory.
Turf King, who was kept inside and got stuck behind tiring pacesetters at the head of the stretch, rallied mildly for third. Ironsides, Activist Investing, and Offaly Cool were scratched. Boppy O was timed in 1:34.02 for one mile on firm going and paid $18.80.
Casse trains the colt, winner of the Grade 3 With Anticipation last summer at Saratoga, for John Oxley and Breeze Easy. Boppy O is by Bolt d’Oro out of Pappascat, making him a brother to the Casse-trained Grade 2 winner Pappacap.
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