Red Mile: Beau Jangles, Brandon Blvd pace 1:47 2/5 miles in Bluegrass Stakes

Last season's Horse of the Year Beau Jangles and this season's North American earnings leader Brandon Blvd both uncorked front-stepping 1:47 2/5 efforts to win their respective $79,000 divisions of the Grade 3 Bluegrass Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 3) at The Red Mile.

In the first division, driver James MacDonald motored Beau Jangles for the front from the pylon draw and seated early leaver Ubrute (driven by Yannick Gingras) heading to a 27 1/5 first quarter. Beau Jangles sailed up the backstretch under no pressure to a 54 1/5 half and maintained his speed through the last turn to three-quarters in 1:21 2/5. Ubrute emerged from the pocket spinning for home but Beau Jangles held that rival at bay in the lane for a 1 1/2 length win. Sea Bistro Hanover (Todd McCarthy) kicked from a second-over trip for third and Thiago Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) zipped from a ground-saving trip for fourth.

"This year's been a different year for sure," winning trainer Dr. Ian Moore said, referencing the colt's turbulent sophomore season off an unbeaten freshman campaign. "We've had some bad things happen here and there, and so I'm glad we're here. Looks like we're readying for a nice end to the fall season here.

"In the paddock today he had his ears up looking at everything," Dr. Moore also said. "Sometimes he gets a little nervous before a race - he might shake a little bit and get a little upset. Not today, and he warmed up beautiful. Everything was good. I've lightened the training on him of late; he does it so easy, so I frequently might've trained him too much in the past and in recent times I haven't trained him hardly much at all, and he's been way better doing that. So we'll continue that."

Beau Jangles competes for owners Graham Grace Stables LLC., Kiwi Stables LLC. and Bolton Stables. The Cattlewash colt, out of the Art Major mare Mrs Major Hill, won for the sixth time from 13 starts this season and for the 18th time from 25 starts in his career, amassing $1,582,236. He paid $3.06 to win.

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Brandon Blvd (Dexter Dunn) hit the track in the following race to dominate the other Bluegrass division. Dunn ranged outside towards early blaster Papi Rick (Joe Bongiorno) to take brief command as Sweet Lovin Lou (Scott Zeron) lunged up to grab the lead through a 26 2/5 first quarter. Brandon Blvd angled out of the pocket and snugly overtook Sweet Lovin Lou approaching a 54 second half and cruised towards three-quarters in 1:21. He then quickened in the stretch as Sweet Lovin Lou tipped outside to challenge but only gave pursuit for second, beaten a half-length. Funky Buddha (Tim Tetrick) levelled off from a first-over push for third and Winnercircleseeker (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) snatched fourth.

"He's been doing it all season," Dunn said after the race, "and Sweet Lovin Lou's extremely fast and been in great form, too. He had to fight today, but that's one of his real credits to him - he's a fighter and that was a great performance."

Brandon Blvd collected his ninth win from 12 starts this season and his 16th victory from 22 starts in his career, accruing $1,564,592 for owner Punisher 11 Stable LLC. The Andrew Harris-trained colt by Downbytheseaside, out of the American Ideal mare Alexis Faith, paid $2.72 to win.

The first Bluegrass division for 3-year-old pacing males was named the "Harnessing the Future: UK College of Agriculture Day at The Red Mile" sponsored by Woodford Feed. The second division of the Bluegrass 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace was sponsored by Brittany Farms.

--press release (Red Mile)--