Wedding Toast changes strategies to score in Ogden Phipps

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin really liked the way Wedding Toast ran when she came from off the pace to win the Grade 2 Ruffian by four lengths last month.

McLaughlin was hoping for a similar trip in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ogden Phipps but was somewhat leery because the race appeared to lack early speed.

In the paddock, jockey Jose Lezcano told McLaughlin not to worry that he would be sitting third early on with Wedding Toast.

But when the gates opened, the game plan changed. None of the horses Lezcano thought would show speed did, so he sent his filly to the front, and she galloped to a five-length victory in the $1 million Phipps.

Untapable, last year’s 3-year-old champion filly and the 3-5 Phipps favorite, could do no better than second, a head in front of House Rules. Rosalind, Princess Violet, and Shayjolie completed the order of finish.

The win improved Wedding Toast’s record to 7 for 11 and 4 for 5 at Belmont Park, and the $535,000 first-place prize pushed her career earnings to $1,179,956.

The victory also earned Wedding Toast an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff as this race was designated a “Win and You’re In” race for that Oct. 31 event.

“I hope we make it to that point,” said McLaughlin, who trains Wedding Toast for Godolphin Racing.

Lezcano said he was expecting Princess Violet or Shayjolie to be forwardly placed. But neither one went for the lead, so Lezcano put Wedding Toast there, and she maintained a length advantage through fractions of 23.64 seconds for the quarter, 46.62 for the half-mile, and 1:10.28 for six furlongs.

Untapable, who broke a half-step slow under John Velazquez, was fifth and wide down the backside. She made a four-wide move around the turn and appeared to get into contention at the quarter pole.

But Lezcano still had plenty of horse on Wedding Toast, who continued on through a mile in 1:34.05, and she covered the 1 1/16-miles in 1:40.21.

Wedding Toast, a daughter of Street Sense, returned $6.30 to win.

“He made a great decision when the gates opened,” McLaughlin said. “You have to make decisions. We can talk about it on paper, but it worked out great. They let her go easy. That was the difference. Jose deserves a lot of credit.”

Lezcano said he didn’t push his filly to get to the lead.

“We were galloping along, and when I asked her, she gave me the kick I need to win the race,” Lezcano said.

Untapable, who was spotting Wedding Toast six pounds, was fortunate to win a head bob over House Rules for second.

“I definitely thought she’d be in a little better position early,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She didn’t get away from there very well, and there was some dead wood between the winner and where she was. He wheeled her out to go after, and that filly took off real fast to the wire.”