Spencer guides Ancient Rome to victory in Mint Millions
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The jockey Jamie Spencer didn’t come all the way from England just to tour rural southern Kentucky this weekend and, after a fifth-place finish, a sixth, and two 12ths, Spencer guided Ancient Rome, the reason he made the long trip, to victory in the $2 million Mint Millions on Saturday at Kentucky Downs.
Spencer now is 2 for 2 on Ancient Rome, and Ancient Rome is 2 for 2 since moving from France to England and joining the yard of trainer Charlie Hills. A high-class 2-year-old when campaigned by Coolmore with trainer Andre Fabre, Ancient Rome was Grade 1-placed as a juvenile. He didn’t develop substantially as a 3-year-old and eventually was sold to Mrs. Fitri Hay while remaining in Fabre’s barn.
After a lackluster third of four in the Group 3 Prix Messidor on July 16, Ancient Rome wound up in England, where Hills dropped him in class at the Glorious Goodwood meet. Ancient Rome, racing on a very soft course over 1 1/4 miles, went from last to first, Spencer aboard for the first time.
A 10-furlong race on testing going at Goodwood is a long way, physically and circumstantially, from one mile over firm, fast-playing turf at Kentucky Downs. Horses were not coming from far off the pace and winning Saturday, and Ancient Rome showed tactical versatility by taking up a stalking position shortly after the start.
Trading ground loss for a clean run, Ancient Rome tracked along as Stitched and Smokin’ T set manageable splits of 22.61 and 46.59. Ancient Rome kept up without being asked and responded when Spencer requested more run from his mount as the field turned into the long homestretch. As Ancient Rome drew alongside the pacesetters with about three-sixteenths of a mile left, heavily favored Annapolis lurked behind the lead pack and Atone, who had stalked from the inside from the start, was taken off the fence.
Ancient Rome stuck his nose in front as the leaders dog-legged into the final half-furlong, coming off his line and drifting left, causing Annapolis to take up. Stitched and Smokin’ T stayed on stoutly as Atone found late stride and finished fastest, but it was the English invader home by a half-length.
Stitched ran gallantly to nab second by a head over Smokin’ T, and who knows what might have happened had fourth-place Atone been kept inside and looked for room, rather than losing momentum when steered outside with only a furlong or so remaining. Annapolis, who checked in fifth, appeared to lack the punch to get through the hole that opened before Ancient Rome came over, but it still was surprising there was no inquiry or objection.
Ancient Rome paid $15.32 and was timed in 1:33.37, slower than 3-year-old Talk of the Nation’s winning mile time in the Gun Runner Stakes earlier on the card. The 4-year-old colt is by War Front out of Gagnoa, by Sadlers Wells. From France to Franklin, Kentucky this summer, Ancient Rome ran right into a $1.176 million payday.
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