Copper Bullet rebounds with Saratoga Special victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Copper Bullet rebounded from a troubled-trip second in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs with a perfect outside stalking trip that he used to record a four-length victory in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

Sitting third, just off a hotly contested pace between Mo Diddley and Barry Lee, Copper Bullet took command just outside the quarter pole and maintained a steady pace through the lane under Irad Ortiz Jr. to draw away in the stretch in a visually impressive performance.

Hollywood Star rallied between horses to get second, two lengths ahead of Tempestad, who necked out stablemate Bal Harbour for third. Crea’s Bklyn Law finished fifth, followed by Diamond Oops, Mo Diddley, Barry Lee, the 8-5 favorite, and Vino.

Though Saratoga’s main track seemed to favor inside speed Sunday, Copper Bullet benefitted from being outside of a contested pace between two horses making their second starts off debut victories.

Copper Bullet broke on top, but Mo Diddley, under Javier Castellano and Barry Lee, under Jose Ortiz, were intent on making the pace. They dueled through a quarter in 21.73 seconds and a half-mile in 44.72 with Copper Bullet about a length behind.

“The other horses have got a little more speed than him,” said Ortiz, who was riding Copper Bullet for the first time. “He’s a big horse, he’s fast but not that fast and I didn’t want to go that fast early. I got the best post in the race so I wanted to use it the best I can.”

Copper Bullet joined the leaders approaching the quarter pole and responded to Ortiz’s urging through the lane.

Copper Bullet, a son of More Than Ready owned by Ron Winchell and Willis Horton, covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.45 and returned $9.10 as the second choice.

“He ran a good race today, he really did,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who won this race for the fourth time. “Excellent draw for him; he was a little playful in the paddock but once he got on the racetrack he was all business.”

Asmussen said he was a little concerned with the quick early fractions, but added, “I think the racing experience that he’s had showed up.”

Copper Bullet was making his fourth start. After winning a maiden by eight lengths in his second start, he broke slowly and was later steadied behind horses when finishing second in the Bashford Manor.

“He caused most of his own problems that day by not breaking like he’s capable of and trying to compensate for it,” Asmussen said. “But he broke well today, looked like he settled off of those horses - they were going fast - and he went through the wire with good energy in a nice final time.”

The win was one of four on the card for Ortiz, who took a 31-29 lead over his brother Jose for leading rider with 19 days remaining in the meet.

Asmussen said he would consider running Copper Bullet back in the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 4, but wouldn’t make a final decision until he sees how the colt is training.