Divisidero uses powerful rally to win American Turf

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brass Hat, the star of trainer Buff Bradley’s stable, was retired in 2010, and along came Groupie Doll, one of the best female sprinters in recent history, to start her career in 2011. Groupie Doll was retired after one race in 2014, and just a year later, Bradley, who runs a compact stable, somehow has another good one on his hands.

Divisidero ran through the homestretch of the Grade 2, $250,000 American Turf on Saturday at Churchill Downs like he was shot out of a cannon, whizzing past A Lot, a talented horse in his own right and one who was finishing well, to win his first stakes in just his third start.

“This horse, he’s going to be around for a long time,” said Bradley, who trains Divisidero for owner Gunpowder Farm LLC.

Bradley rarely wins with first-time starters, which is why Divisidero’s debut victory in a turf route race Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park seemed notable, as was the way in which the colt won, launching himself from 11th with about a quarter-mile to run to win by a half-length, especially impressive given the short straightaways on that course.

Beaten three-quarters of a length with some trouble after another big late move in the Palm Beach Stakes on March 7, Divisidero was pointed to the Bourbon Stakes on opening weekend at Keeneland, but that race was postponed because of storms, and by the time it was brought back several days later, Divisidero had developed a minor lung infection.

“We just took our time with him,” Bradley said. “This race was always the goal.”

Tuba dashed off from post 13 to seize the early lead over Luck of the Kitten, but the pace was somewhat slow to develop, the leader going in 24.03 and 48.69 seconds over a fast-playing, firm turf course. The tracking group of horses included A Lot, whose rider, John Velazquez, seeking to avoid getting jammed up, sent his mount up to the lead with a little more than five-sixteenths of a mile left to run. Up by two lengths at the stretch call, A Lot looked like he might be home.

Divisidero, though, was just getting wound up. Bradley says the horse is tactically versatile, but he sure seems well suited to the one-run closer’s role. Under Rafael Hernandez, Divisidero still was 10th around the far turn, but he picked up momentum coming into the stretch and finished with fire upon straightening for home.

“He knows when it’s time to start running,” Hernandez said.

Divisidero collared A Lot in the final half-furlong and beat him by a half-length, the top two well clear of late-running third-place finisher World Approval. The winner stopped the timer at 1:41.59 for 1 1/16 miles.

Both trainer and jockey say Divisidero will only improve with more distance, but Bradley said he’d no idea right now where Divisidero will start next. By Kitten’s Joy, Divisidero, bred by Hinkle Farm, was a $250,000 yearling purchase. He’s won two of three starts – there are probably many more to come.