CHURCHILL DOWNS, Ky--Pa-bred Shamrock Rose got up to win the $1 million, 7 furlong Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 3 by a neck over Chalon, owned by Unionville, Pa., residents Mr. & Mrs. Roy Jackson's Lael stables.
Shamrock Rose wins the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Photo by Patricia McQueen)Bred by Best A Luck Farm LLC, Shamrock Rose, First Dude out of Slew's Quality, by Elusive Quality. trailed early, was three wide entering the stretch and was in a long drive to finally get up to win by a head, with Chalon a neck ahead of third placed Anonymity.
Trained by Mark Casse, who saddled his fifth career Breeders Cup winner, and ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Shamrock Rose is owned by Manfred Conrad's Conrad Farms.
Conrad is the president and CEO of the Cora Group, Inc., a large commercial real estate development company.
Conrad purchased Shamrock Rose last year as a 2-year-old at the Ocala Breeders' Sales April sale of 2 year olds in training.
He supplemented the 3-year-old filly to the Breeders' Cup, saying he had faith in the horse because she's been doing so great in her last races.
PREVIOUS TO the Breeders' Cup, Shamrock Rose had won the Malvern Rose Stakes at Presque Isle on Aug. 5, the La Lorgnette Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 9 and the Lexus Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 20.
Interestingly, her first career start was not in a maiden race but in the Ontario Debutante Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 9, 2017, which she won.
She has now won five races from 10 career starts with two seconds and one third and has $917,687 in earnings.
“Was I surprised we won? It was a tough race, but she’s a good horse,” said trainer Mark Casse in the Thoroughbred Daily News. “I told Irad I don’t know if she’s good enough, but she’ll give you everything she has. And, she’s good. It goes back to Allen Jerkens who always said ‘Run them when they’re good,’ so we came back in two weeks.”
Casse continued, “I was a little concerned she was dropped back as far, but one thing about it, we have one of the best riders in the world on her and he made a decision, which, after about an eighth of a mile, made us win the race.”
The Jacksons bought the 4-year-old Chalon last year at Fasig Tiptons's Kentucky fall mixed sale for $550.000 and Chalon this year has won the Primonetta Stakes at Laurel on April 21, placed second in the G3 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont on May 12, won the Regret Stakes at Monmouth on June 17 and placed second in the G2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 6.
Of other Delaware Valley winners in the Breeders' Cup, on Friday, Jaywalk, who is based at Parx, trained by John Servis and co-owned by Cash is King stable, won the $2 million Juvenile Fillies for fillies two years old.
THE JACKSONS had a very good weekend, not only finishing second in the Breeders' Cup race but also winning a stakes at Belmont on Friday with their homebred 4-year-old No Dozing, who is by Union Rags out of a Pulpit mare.
No Dozing notched his first graded stakes win, staying close to the early pace, taking command before the turn and clearing away for an emphatic 9 3/4 length win in the G3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap for 3-year-olds and up on Friday, Opening Day, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The 43rd running of the Bold Ruler was originally slated for Oct. 27 at Belmont Park before inclement weather canceled the card.
Rescheduled as the first of 13 graded stakes for the 23-day fall meet, the handicap saw No Dozing stalk 2-1 favorite and 122-pound highweight Coal Front's early fractions of 22.14 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with the half in 44.92 on the main track labeled fast.
Approaching the turn, jockey Daniel Centeno, bidding for his first graded stakes win at a NYRA track, urged No Dozing to take command from the outside, and the gelding overtook Coal Front and gained separation in the stretch, completing the 7 furlong sprint in 1:23.81 without being seriously challenged in the final furlong.
No Dozing, carrying 119 pounds, won for the first time since besting a field of allowance optional claimers on July 21 at Saratoga while registering his second career stakes win, adding to the 2017 Concern at Laurel Park for trainer Arnaud Delacour.
"I talked to Arnaud this morning. We thought the speed was inside of me, so our plan was to keep close and not be left back," said Centeno. "I had to use him a little in the beginning. We broke a little bit slow, but as soon as I got him going and put him in a good spot, he was comfortable all the way. When I went to the lead, he was gone. Turning for home, I had plenty of horse."
Off as the 5-2 second choice, No Dozing paid $7.40 on a $2 win wager and improved his career earnings to $485,590.
Calumet Farm's True Timber, returning to stakes company for the first time in six starts for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, rallied for second under jockey Joe Bravo, outkicking Delta Prince by 1 1/4 lengths.
