Isolate pulls away in stretch to win Godolphin Mile
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Isolate, who once raced at gritty Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago, went straight to the lead and won the Group 2, $1 million Godolphin Mile by 5 1/2 lengths under Tyler Gaffalione, who never had ridden at glitzy Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.
Isolate broke a half-step slow from an inside draw, volleyed for the early lead with 2022 Godolphin Mile winner Bathrat Leon, edged clear going around the race’s one turn, and drew off through the last 400 meters for a definitive victory.
Isolate’s win was the third in this race for American expatriate trainer Doug Watson. Isolate himself is a recent American expatriate, having campaigned through last September in the United States. Isolate won the restricted Tale of the Cat Stakes at Saratoga over seven furlongs and was second by a nose in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes over six furlongs at Churchill Downs, his last start before being sold and sent to Dubai. Isolate finished second in a pair of six-furlong races in February and March.
“We didn’t know what distance to run him over when we got him,” Watson said. “We had a bunch of milers in the yard, so we just kind of thought we’d give him a chance over six [furlongs]. Once he finished second, I thought we’d better go to the mile and just hope he stays.”
Isolate definitely stayed, rating kindly for Gaffalione, who’d been aboard for the Saratoga stakes win.
“We just wanted to be in front today. Big horse. I just didn’t want to get in his way,” Gaffalione said.
Law of Peace came late to finish second by three-quarters of a length over Atletico El Culano. Bathrat Leon couldn’t kick home with the winner and was all out to hold fourth. Winning time for the 1,600 meters over a fast track was 1:35.71, and Isolate paid $10.40.
Owned by RRR Racing and bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Isolate is a 5-year-old horse by Mark Valeski out of Tranquil Song, by Unbridled’s Song.
Moore gives Broome perfect trip in Dubai Gold Cup
For years and years, Ryan Moore has been one of the best jockeys in the world – the best, some would say. And in the Group 2, $1 million Dubai Gold Cup, he showed why, turning in a masterpiece on victorious Broome.
Picking out heavily favored Siskany as his target, saving ground while keeping tabs on Siskany throughout this two-mile staying contest, Moore moved his mount off the rail in upper stretch, found a gap between Al Nayyir and Sisphahan as he approached it, and set his sights on Siskany, who’d gone clear. Broome edged closer at the 200-meter mark, caught Siskany with 100 meters to go, and pushed out to a neck victory.
There were 15 horses in the Gold Cup and Moore not only picked out the right horse to follow, he pushed every proper button to help his mount to the win.
Credit Broome, too, as well as Siskany, as the top pair pulled almost five lengths clear of third-place Subjectivist. Broome and Siskany had raced over 1 3/4 miles, but neither had tried the Gold Cup’s two-mile trip, and both stayed admirably. The winning time of 3:16.83 over good-to-firm going was a course record.
Seven-year-old Broome, by Australia out of Sweepstake, by Acclamation, has gone on a remarkable worldwide journey: In his last nine starts, he has raced in England, Ireland, America, France, Hong Kong, Qatar, and now Dubai. Sixth in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf, Broome has long been campaigned at the Group 1 level but has cost himself time after time with poor starts. Over a two-mile trip, the start holds far less importance, and Broome showed Saturday that two miles – at least over a flat, fast-playing track – is within his scope.
Broome, trained by Aidan O’Brien for Masaaki Matsushima and Mrs. John Magnier, paid a generous $25.80 to win.
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