Bradsell scores smart victory in Nunthorpe

Bradsell won the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday at York Racecourse in a performance more impressive than his three-quarter-length margin of victory.

Tracking the early leader, the Czech horse Ponntos, Bradsell zoomed to the lead in the final quarter-mile and was well clear with a half-furlong to run before Believing made up some ground. Believing never looked like she would get there, and Hollie Doyle, Bradsell’s jockey, said her mount had idled after opening daylight on the field.

Believing nabbed Starlust for third with favored Asfoora a relatively tame fourth. Still, Asfoora performed much better than Big Evs, who failed even to muster his customary speed and checked in eighth over this straight five furlongs.

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The Nunthorpe is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and Bradsell’s connections now have automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint as well as travel expenses to Del Mar. But because of Bradsell’s injury history, the 4-year-old’s trainer, Archie Watson, hesitated to delve too deeply into Bradsell’s future. Bradsell missed time with a tibia injury and late this winter fractured a fetlock. Watson said he thought the sprinter might be headed for a stallion career, but Bradsell not only made it back to the races but probably hit a career peak in the Nunthorpe. Racing over good-to-firm going, Bradsell clocked 57.34 while paying $7.80 to American bettors.

Bradsell, who is Breeders’ Cup-eligible, is by Tasleet out of Russian Punch, by Archipenko. Archipenko raced mainly in Dubai and Europe but shipped to Chicago and finished second in the 2008 Arlington Million. Maybe his grandson will show up on these shores, too.

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