Denon breaks through in Turf Classic
ELMONT, N.Y. - Denon, narrowly defeated in the United Nations and Sword Dancer, broke through with a win in Sunday's $750,000 at Belmont Park before a crowd of 7,793.
Denon, with Edgar Prado aboard, found an opening in the stretch of the 1 1/2-mile Turf Classic and held off longshot Blazing Fury for a half-length win. It was another head back to Delta Form in third in the Grade 1 Turf Classic.
With Anticipation, the second choice in the eight-horse field, finished sixth.
Denon was part of the favored Bobby Frankel-trained entry with Timboroa. Lord Flasheart, another Frankel runner, Man From Wicklow, and Revved up were scratched.
Timboroa and Ulundi set the pace with With Anticipation and Denon right behind the leaders through fractions of 23.78 seconds, 48.66, 1:14.51, and 1:39.08. As the field turned for home, Denon and With Anticipation were still behind the early leaders and Kim Loves Bucky, who had joined the pacesetters with a quick move around the turn.
In upper stretch, Prado eased Denon outside of Kim Loves Bucky and Ulundi and took the lead inside the eighth pole.
"Once I found a place to go, he gave me good acceleration," said Prado, who rode Timboroa to victory in last year's Turf Classic.
Pat Day, who rode With Anticipation said the moisture in the turf course, which was listed as good, might not have been to With Anticipation's liking.
"I really have to believe it was the surface," Day said. "He didn't go ahead and extend himself."
Denon ($5.10) covered the distance in 2:28.47.
Denon, a 4-year-old son of Pleasant Colony owned by Edmund Gann and Flaxman Stable, is headed to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Arlington Park on Oct. 26.
"I think he is my best horse for a mile and a half," Frankel said. "I was a little concerned that maybe he wasn't tight enough, but I think now he'll be perfect for the Breeders' Cup with four weeks."
Heading into the Turf Classic, With Anticipation had won three Grade 1's, the United Nations, Sword Dancer, and Man o'War.
Jonathan Sheppard, With Anticipation's trainer, said if the turf is soft or yielding in the Breeders' Cup, he might not run.
"He didn't have any response; I assume it was the ground," Sheppard said.