Occult pulls away to win stakes debut in Busanda
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It was announced earlier this week that Raging Sea, the third-place finisher from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, would not be able to get on the Kentucky Oaks trail owing to an ankle chip that required surgery.
Raging Sea’s connections – the Alpha Delta Stables and trainer Chad Brown – hope they have a suitable substitute in Occult. Saturday, at chilly Aqueduct, Occult made a successful stakes debut, overtaking pacesetting Sweetest Princess turning for home and edging away to a 3 3/4-length victory in the $100,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct.
Gambling Girl finished second by 3 1/4 lengths over Affirmative Lady, who nosed out Sweetest Princess for third. Aniston was eased in upper stretch.
The win was the second straight – following a debut defeat – for Occult, a daughter of Into Mischief who was purchased for $625,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale.
The Busanda victory earned Occult 20 qualifying points to the Kentucky Oaks, on May 5 at Churchill Downs, though the filly will likely to have to do more to establish herself as a contender for that race.
“The waters are going to get a lot deeper and she’s going to have to get faster, but you got to give her credit, she’s really responded well and really come forward after a very average debut,” Brown said.
Brown believes part of that turnaround has come with stretching Occult out in distance after a fourth-place finish running six furlongs on debut. Occult’s maiden win on Dec. 18 came here going a mile, the Busanda was at 1 1/8 miles.
Ridden Saturday by Dylan Davis, Occult raced in second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the pacesetting Sweetest Princess. After stalking that one through six furlongs in 1:14.22, Occult went after Sweetest Princess, collared her above the three-sixteenths pole, and cruised home a handy winner.
Davis said Occult saw something that caused her to lug in around the far turn, but he quickly straightened her out and she finished up well.
“I pulled the left-hand [stick] out and gave her a couple of flags and she went on her way again,” Davis said. “She just needed a little encouragement at that point to get back to task and focus.”
Occult covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:54.78 and returned $4.80 as the favorite.
Brown said he would likely keep Occult in New York, but is unlikely to shorten her up to a one-turn mile in the $200,000 Busher here on March 4. The next race for 3-year-old fillies in New York after that is the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on April 8.
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