Missed the Cut scores first USA triumph with Tokyo City Cup
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ARCADIA, Calif. - A winner at Royal Ascot in 2022, Missed the Cut won for the first time in the United States in Sunday’s Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita, a victory that could lead to an international trip this fall.
Trainer John Sadler mentioned the Grade 1 Champions Cup at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse in Japan in December as one of several options. The $1.73 million Champions Cup is Japan’s leading dirt race of the autumn.
In the $98,000 Tokyo City Cup, Missed the Cut was sent off favored in a field of four. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Missed the Cut ($3.20) stalked the pace for the first 1 1/4 miles before taking the lead in early stretch. With minimal urging, Missed the Cut pulled clear rapidly to win by a comfortable 5 1/2 lengths.
“I was loaded all the way,” Rispoli told Santa Anita publicity.
Missed the Cut was timed in 2:32.78 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 98.
“It was a good race for him today,” trainer John Sadler said. “We wanted to get him on a winning track.”
The field was reduced from five to four when Donner Lake was withdrawn as the field reached the gate on the advice of the track veterinarian, according to track stewards.
Azul Coast (5-2) set a predictably slow pace of 24.65 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.79 for a half-mile, leading by less than a length over 6-1 Kiss Today Goodbye. Missed the Cut was third along the inside behind that pair before Rispoli moved his mount to the outside leaving the turn.
Kiss Today Goodbye held second, 4 1/4 lengths in front of Azul Coast. Order and Law, the winner of the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on July 23, was last throughout and was not a factor in the stretch.
Missed the Cut, a 4-year-old colt by Quality Road, races in the colors of Lanes End Racing, and is owned by a partnership that includes Bee Zee LLC, St. Elias Stables, Edward Babington and Edward and Lynne Hudson.
The Tokyo City Cup was Missed the Cut’s fourth start in the United States and first top-three finish since a second in his debut in this country in a one-mile allowance race in June. Missed the Cut was seventh in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on dirt at Del Mar on July 29 and fourth by 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on turf on Sept. 2.
In England, Missed the Cut won the Golden Gates Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Royal Ascot when trained by George Boughey.
Ruby Nell wins Unzip Me
Ruby Nell ($5.20) won her first stakes with a late rally in Sunday’s $102,500 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Ruby Nell closed from eighth in a field of 10 to reach the front nearing the eighth pole. Ruby Nell won by a length and was timed in 1:11.35. She paid $5.20 as the favorite.
Fast and Shiny, the winner of the Angels Flight Stakes on the hillside course in March, finished second at 5-1, 3 1/4 lengths in front of 9-1 Free and Humble.
The remaining order of finish was Make It Snow, Justique, Lunar Impact, Wed, Alternate Rock, Wide West and Havana Angel.
Ruby Nell, by Bolt d’Oro, has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $198,520 for Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella.
Ruby Nell was fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 19 in her stakes debut.
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