Bran runs down Artemus Citylimits to win Turf Sprint

Bran ran down pacesetting Artemus Citylimits and won the Turf Sprint on Saturday, the first Kentucky Downs winner for California-based trainer John Sadler and the biggest win for jockey Vincent Cheminaud since the French native moved his tack to the United States earlier this year.

Bran also is a native of France, the 4-year-old gelding a son of Muhaarar and Best Intent, by King’s Best, bred in France and campaigned there for his first 13 races. While this was easily the biggest payday since Bran was purchased and imported to California, he wasn’t eligible for the $450,000 portion of the $1 million Turf Sprint purse available only to Kentucky-breds. Total purse for the Grade 2 Turf Sprint was $648,640, with Bran earning $320,540.

The Turf Sprint is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, and Bran, who earned automatic fees-paid entry into the BC Turf Sprint, is a Breeders’ Cup-eligible horse. Sadler, who had run only three horses at Kentucky Downs before Saturday, said Bran was a likely runner in the BC Turf Sprint at Keeneland.

Cheminaud once rode regularly for legendary French trainer Andre Fabre and while based in France piloted Flintshire to victory in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga, but with his business having slowed to a crawl overseas, Cheminaud showed up at Fair Grounds this past February. Cheminaud was riding sparingly late this winter and into the spring until trainer Ignacio Correas began supporting him over the summer, and during the last six weeks, Cheminaud’s fortunes have rapidly ascended.

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Cheminaud had ridden Bran once before, when the gelding finished second to Turf Sprint favorite Arrest Me Red this past May at Churchill Downs, and the French expatriate jockey gave the French expatriate gelding all the chance he needed to win Saturday.

Artemus Citylimits drew into the race from the also-eligible list and broke like a rocket from post 12 to set a fast pace, 21.51 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 43.97 to the half. Cheminaud placed Bran in midpack, about two paths off the rail coming around the turn, steering outside, three or four paths wide, to get a clear run at the pacesetter through the homestretch. Arrest Me Red, the even-money chalk, raced from farther off the pace than normal, but came with a move outside Bran at the three-sixteenths pole, but Bran was going better than Arrest Me Red, and finally wore down Artemus Citylimits in the final strides to win by a neck.

Bran’s winning time of 1:07.41 for six furlongs over firm going set a course record. He paid $25.56 to win.

“I think people maybe underestimated him a little bit,” said Sadler, who trains Bran for Hronis Racing, the owners of North America’s best horse, the Sadler-trained Flightline. “Remember, when we’re talking about Santa Anita, he’s run six [furlongs] on the flat and he’s run 6 1/2 down the hill. So, he’s had good experience, then you throw in what they do in Europe, where the courses are different. So, all those little things made a good vibe for the horse going there.”

The vibe was even better for Bran coming out of there.