If there is any concern that a trip to the Middle East and finishing fourth at 1 1/4 mile will have a negative impact on excellence Life is good it washed out in the shade under one minute 22 seconds.
Back in the race for the first time since the March 26 loss at the $12 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), Life Is Good is as sharp as ever as he crosses the finish line to win pre-decision John A. Nerud worth $232,500. Shares (G2) July 2 at Belmont Park.
Driven by 1st level winners Speaker corner Through quick fractions: 22.19, :44.70 and 1:08.83, WinStar Farm and China Horse Club’s Life Is Good got ahead to score 5 points against that competitor at 1:21 ,70 for seven feathers.
“He’s just an extraordinary horse,” said WinStar CEO, president and racing manager, Elliott Walden. “We’re excited to see what happens for the rest of the year. It’s great to see. They couldn’t pull him up (after the race). It looks like he has no limits. will see when we get to next year, but we expect him to come back in about two more turns.”
The two-turn racing comeback will come on August 6 when ‘s son Into Mischief bred by Gary and Mary West to become one of the most beloved characters in Racecourse Saratoga at $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) within 1/8 mile. Stretching back doesn’t pose a problem for him, as evidenced by his victory with coach Todd Pletcher in the 2021 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and then 2 $.94 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by 1/ST BET (G1) at 1 1/8 mile in January.
“We’ve got a little something out of it. Now we have five weeks for Whitney and we’ll see if we can take it one step further,” Pletcher said. “We’re so lucky to have him.”
With only a four-man field, the third New York Racing Association in a row opening bets with four starters, there wasn’t much of a thrill around Nerud. The race is essentially a head-to-head race between multiple Life Is Good class 1 winners and Handicap winner Carter, Godolphin’s Home Language Speaker, who recently finished third behind the undefeated. Flight route in Urban Handicap Hill ‘n’ Dale (G1).
Once a 1-5 favorite in Life Is Good ($2.40) and cyclist Flavien Prat quickly snatched the lead from the rails, a slight change from there as Speaker’s Corner pushed Life. Is Good but starts to drop again after half a mile.
“I was going to apply some pressure in the second quarter. I did, but (Life Is Good) is the better horse,” said Jose Ortiz, Speaker’s Corner rider. “He just couldn’t keep up and run steadily the whole time.”
While Bill Mott-trained Speaker’s Corner, second 2-1 pick, couldn’t beat Life Is Good, but in terms of conditions, Ortiz could do nothing but chase the winner.
“This horse’s weapon is its speed. You’re damned if you do or damn if you don’t,” Walden said of the Life Is Good challenge in the early stages.
Speaker’s Corner, a son of Street Sense second more than 2 1/2 length Repo Rocks .
Life Is Good, 7-for-9 with earnings of $3,551,700, was purchased by Maverick Racing for $525,000 from a Paramount Sales consignment at Keeneland September 2019 Sale. He is the second of five ponies and the winner of the first bet for Walking on the beach who also has a desire Candy Ride The pony and a full brother of Life Is Good were born this year.
“There was a sense of relief when they finished,” Pletcher said of the expectations for Saturday’s race. “They’re not the ones you’re jumping up and down and shouting and waving at your show.”
Video: John A. Nerud S. (G2)
