Clearview Stable’s Wonder Gal was a precious underage for coach Leah Gyarmati, the first-season bet winner of 2014 and third-place finisher in that year’s 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita . Park. Now her daughter Mark Casse is training Magic wheel had a date in the same race, which took place at Keeneland November 4
Racing at Keeneland on October 7 on the opening day of the track’s fall meet, DJ-owned DJ Stable earned an auto-pay slot in the race by extending his win in front of a grandstand packed with $497,337 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) . Alcibiades serves as a “Win and You Join” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup juniors.
Daughter of Into Mischief make the most of her tracks, skip avoiding early traffic and prevent the late rush of Hurry up The finish was so tight that Hall of Fame coach Casse didn’t allow himself to celebrate until he witnessed slow-motion replay right after the race.
Wonder Wheel did “get it” but not much after showing reluctance to shift the conductor down the ramp after holding the three-way mid-range lead. But she had enough left to fight the late runner-up, as well as Seaside and Xigera who crossed the rope in third and fourth place.
The latter two fillings failed in the official finish order after the Raging Sea category manager failed to qualify and placed her fourth behind Xigera for bumping her into the street.
“We always thought (Wonder Wheel) had a lot of classes and she really showed that today,” said rider Tyler Gaffalione. “She had a really great performance. On the surface, (winning) didn’t look as easy as expected, but she just seemed to get lost in the stretch, and today there were a lot of people. in the stands, so she has every excuse to make excuses.”
Wonder Wheel raced 1 1/16 miles on the fast track in 1:45.17 after divisions: 23.49, :47.16 and 1:11.60 under Gaffalione. She paid $10.20 on a $2 winning bet being the favorite in field 14.
“I’m so happy for the Greens,” Casse said of DJ Stable’s Green family, which includes Leonard Green and his son, Jonathan. “They put a lot of money into the game, and they deserve it.”
DJ Stable acquired the Wonder Wheel last year for $275,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale from shipments from her co-breeder, Clearsky Farms.
Owner Leonard Green and driver for trainer Mark Casse lead the Wonder Wheel into the winners’ circle after her win in the Alcibiades Stakes
Runner-up in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) in the final start, Wonder Wheel improved its record to 3-1-0 from four races and earned $510,725. She landed Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs in July.
“She had a great trip today; she had a bit of a hassle (in Spinaway),” Casse said. “And to be honest, Spinaway is a big race — it’s 1st grade, but that’s not my main goal. It was today, and hopefully this leads us into a big race. another to come.”
Wonder Wheel is one of only two ponies off her dam, one who earned $904,800 who died earlier this year, according to Equineline. Her other pony, Holy Bible a 4-year-old son of Pioneer of the Nile was a three-time winner with earnings of $70,480.
The unlikely winner will be the only starter from the Alcibiades going on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Brad Cox, coach of runner-up Chop Chop, was encouraged by his performance to take second place after she raced in an early 11th place. Alcibiades was her first race on dirt track, following a turf victory in the aristocratic Juvenile Stakes at Kentucky Downs and a maiden race at Ellis . Park.
“Good run,” he said. “I think we’ve got a hit to get there. Short distances are tough when you have a closer distance like this. She doesn’t run away either (like the others) but look, what happens when you’re running a horse prepared on grass running on the ground Sometimes they don’t react as quickly Overall I’m satisfied with the effort but not the result because I like it her a lot.I’m proud of that effort.
“We’re going to look at the Breeders’ Cup, obviously here. It makes sense.”
Rigney Racing’s Xigera earned a valuable tier 1 spot as she moved up to third and her coach, Phil Bauer, hinted she could run in the Breeders’ Cup, perhaps moving the running surface in the Breeders’ Juvenile Court (G1T). Her first two starts were both on grass.
“We’re going forward for sure; we have pitch and dirt options,” he said. “Our first choice is turf and trash (joyful ) that we beat at Saratoga won Jessamine (Friday) Jessamine (G2T). “
