Isotherm prevails in hard-fought Pilgrim Stakes
Next Shares cut the early pace to the far turn of Saturday's Pilgrim Stakes. Several lead changes later, it was Isotherm who emerged from a cavalry charge through the stretch to prevail by a neck over Azar in the Grade 3, $200,000 turf race for 2-year-olds.
Next Shares appeared to set fairly comfortable fractions, but he was swarmed from both flanks turning for home as the field spread out across the inner turf course to make their runs. The lightly regarded Isotherm ($21.20), who had lagged in eighth position in the field of 10 down the backstretch, came four wide beneath Jose Lezcano and was the last to poke his head in front after rivals Brass Compass, Ray’s The Bar, and Azar had all led at some point down the lane.
“At the half-mile pole, everybody started to move a little bit, and the pace started to quicken, so I had to move with the group,” said Lezcano. “When everyone started moving, I had some pressure and was a little out of it, but he still did everything right. The last time I rode him, he was a little bit tugging on the bit, but this time, he was very relaxed, and after this race, I have a lot of respect for him.”
Isotherm, the only horse in the field racing without Lasix, improved to 2 for 2 on turf for trainer George Weaver and earned $120,000 for owner Matthew Schera. His time of 1:41.98 on firm turf equaled the fourth-fastest running of the Pilgrim at 1 1/16 miles. The Pilgrim has fluctuated between that distance and 1 1/8 miles over the years.
“We even think he likes dirt, too, so we’ll see down the road for that,” said Schera, who purchased the Lonhro colt for $120,000 as a yearling. “As long as he comes out good and he’s healthy, we’ll go to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.”
Ray’s The Bar, who came through traffic toward the inside, was another neck back in third. He was followed by Highland Sky, who was forced to steady twice while trying to gather momentum in the stretch.
The order of finish was completed by Brass Compass, Dissident, Forever in Love, Pagan, Eidmilaad, and Next Shares.