Pixelate wins Mint Million to give Rosario another five-bagger
FRANKLIN, Ky. – An incredible opening weekend at Kentucky Downs for Joel Rosario hit its peak late Monday when the star jockey guided Pixelate to a mild upset in the Grade 3, $845,875 WinStar Mint Million Mile.
Rosario coaxed Pixelate into settling well off a pace contested by Somelikeithotbrown before the 4-year-old Godolphin homebred colt launched a huge outside rally to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths. Somelikeithotbrown held well to be second in a field of 10 older horses, followed by late-running Monarchs Glen and Argentello. Flavius, the 7-5 favorite, flattened out late to finish fifth.
Pixelate, now a winner in six of 10 starts, returned $11.20 as third choice after finishing the mile in 1:34.04. The winner’s share of $589,000 lifted his earnings to $1,098,850.
The victory was the 10th of the two-day opening weekend for Rosario, with five wins coming on the Sunday opener and five more Monday. The 10 wins came from 19 mounts.
Rosario credited his agent, Ron Anderson, for putting him on so many live mounts, adding: “I have to thank everybody who was involved – the owners, trainers, everybody.”
Over a turf course upgraded from good to firm after the first five of 11 races, and amid brilliant sunshine on a warm Labor Day afternoon, Bizzee Channel set a hurried pace before being overtaken by Somelikeithotbrown with about three furlongs to run. Flavius, the winner of this race last September when it was still known as the Tourist Mile, then moved to challenge, but they all were swamped by Pixelate’s searing run.
“It seemed like the more you ride him, the more into the bridle he got,” said Rosario. “He liked doing what he was doing out there.”
The Mint Million was supposed to be the first of three $1 million races at a six-day meet that began Sunday, but with Somelikeithotbrown ineligible for the Kentucky-bred bonuses, the purse dipped well below the seven-figure mark.
Pixelate, by City Zip, is based at the Fair Hill training center with Mike Stidham. Among his prior victories were the Del Mar Derby last September and the Woodchopper at Fair Grounds in late December. Stidham and Godolphin teamed earlier this year to win the $12 million Dubai World Cup with another homebred 4-year-old, Mystic Guide, who is sidelined with an injury.
Jimmy Bell, who manages American racing operations for Godolphin, was on hand to accept the winner’s trophy, just as he was Sunday, when the powerhouse stable won the Dueling Grounds Oaks with Adventuring, ridden by Rosario.
The $2 exacta (6-9) paid $46.40, the $1 trifecta (6-9-5) returned $179.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-9-5-2) was worth $165.58.
After Monday, four cards remain at Kentucky Downs – Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Churchill Downs starts a 12-day dirt-only meet Sept. 16.