Only on the fourth boot, Best Leading Actor was a show of dominance when he thundered inside the box on August 23 Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) at Racing Parxovertake the lead wire before his rivals 5 3/4 length and get the first win in the ranked holding company.
Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old pony is second to the original leader Practice Coach through fractions of: 23.76 and: 47.72. Near the final turn, Best Actor, led by Florent Geroux, moved and took the lead with ease with a score of 1:11.97. Going down the road, Kissalot moved from third to second to challenge the leader but couldn’t keep up. At the top of the line, it was Best Actor, who tore the net for it with a score of 1:44.14 over 1/16 mile on the fast track.
Kissalot came in second and was loved 8-5 Creative Minister third run, 7 3/4 length behind the winner.
Best Actor paid $7 to win and improved his record to 3-1-0 in four starts. His income increased to $382,120.
Owned by Gary and Mary West, son of Flatter His most recent outing was a runner-up finish in the Indiana Derby (G3). He won both his first and second attempts, a first special weight class race on April 16 at Oaklawn Park and a subsidized optional claimant on April 12. 6 at Churchill Downs.
Best Actor is a $330,000 purchase for dealer Ben Glass from the Beau Lane Bloodstock shipment to Keeneland September 2020 Sale. He is not the Abraqat Smart Strike mare who has three winners from four ponies to race against. The dam released a Game Winner pony this year and was bred back to Yaupon for the 2023 season.
Green Up Brings Cathryn Sophia into style, adding an impressive record
In a field that has been reduced to five, that of Team Valor International How refreshing who has dominated the Cathryn Sophia Stock for 3-year-olds.
The Start up Trained by Todd Pletcher, increases as the herd moves through the fractions: 22.95, :46.53, 1: 10.68 and 1:35.62.
Leading the charge early is Interstatedaydream the 1-2 favorite faltered in the final turn, where Green Up led by Irad Ortiz Jr and won by 3 3/4 length in 1:39.77 for a mile and 70 metres. .
Interstatedaydream came in second, with Morning matcha occupy third.
Green Up paid $7.80 and improved 4-1-0 from five starts. Her income increased to $220,760.
Bred in Virginia by Althea Richards, the Green Up was purchased by Leonard Mattingly for $10,000 from a Marshall Silverman shipment for the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Northeast Atlantic Sale. She’s out of Two Punch mare Green Punch, who has three winners from three ponies to race against.
Video: Cathryn Sophia S. (BT)
