Romantica stands out in Bewitch
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Juddmonte Farms has seen bigger days. After all, the powerhouse stable was represented by two-time European Horse of the Year Frankel as its most recent global superstar just a couple of years ago.
Still, Thursday at Keeneland qualifies as a big day for the pink and green, considering that Romantica, a Breeders’ Cup runner-up, and Morpheus, a half-brother to Frankel, both will be in action on a nine-race card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern.
“I think we’re more hopeful than super-confident,” said Garrett O’Rourke, the American racing manager for Juddmonte. “We’ve already had some disappointment this meet with Emollient [third at odds-on last Friday in the Doubledogdare] and a few others, so I’m hesitant to get too cocky.”
Nonetheless, it stands to reason that Romantica is strictly the one to beat in the Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile turf race carded as the eighth (post 4:42). Switched over to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott after Andre Fabre sent her out to a sharp runner-up finish behind Dank in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall, the now-5-year-old mare has flourished in training toward her return.
“She’s doing very well and has worked quite nicely since her arrival,” Mott said.
O’Rourke said Romantica “obviously has the distance that should be to her liking. On form, she looks like the class of the race. With some luck, we can have a nice year with her.”
With Joel Rosario riding, Romantica will break from post 9 as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the three-turn Bewitch, which drew 11 other fillies and mares and shapes up as an outstanding race. Among the other logical contenders are Left a Message, Viva Rafaela, Aigue Marine, and Inimitable Romanee.
The Bewitch is the sister race to the Grade 2, $200,000 Elkhorn Stakes, which closes out the 15-day spring meet Friday.
One race earlier Thursday, all eyes will be on Morpheus as the 4-year-old colt makes his U.S. debut when breaking from post 1 under Jose Lezcano in a $64,000, third-level optional claimer (race 7, post 4:11) at 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack.
Morpheus, also new to Mott’s care after being campaigned by the late Henry Cecil and his widow, Lady Jane Cecil, has won 3 of 8 career starts. He will be getting first-time Lasix when facing 11 other older horses off 13 workouts (11 at Payson Park and two at Keeneland).
“We’re just crossing our fingers in the hope he’ll adapt over here,” O’Rourke said. “Obviously, he has some talent, and we’re hoping he’ll find a niche for himself, something that’s ideal on these American tracks and with firm ground.”
Morpheus is listed at 4-1 in a race that has Charming Kitten, ninth in the Kentucky Derby last year, as a 3-1 program choice.
A highly eventful Thursday card begins with the third 2-year-old race of the meet and the first restricted to fillies. Wesley Ward will send out the uncoupled pair of Beauty Sisters and Spanish Pipedream in a field of nine.