TWO Gr.1 WINS FOR JUDDMONTE BLUEBLOODS
Aptitude (4, b. c. A.P. Indy/Dokki) became A.P. Indy’s ninth
Gr.1 winner with his victory in the Gr.1 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Aptitude showed previous brilliance with runner-up finishes in both
the Gr.1 Kentucky Derby and Gr.1 Belmont Stakes in 2000. After a
four-month layoff, Aptitude ran in the Gr.1 Dubai World Cup. He
returned to finish third in the Gr.2 Californian before his victory
in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Aptitude sat off a fairly contested
pace, avoided trouble at the top of the stretch and closed strongly
to defeat entry-mate Skimming by two lengths.
His jockey, Laffit Pincay, Jr., won his record-tying eighth Gold
Cup, tying Bill Shoemaker. Trainer Bobby Frankel believes his
performance more impressive due to the speed-favoring bias shown
over the Hollywood meet. Aptitude will be heading to the East
Coast, with an intended run at Saratoga. Aptitude is the second
Gr.1 winner his dam has produced. Daughter Sleep Easy by Seattle
Slew won the Gr.1 Hollywood Oaks in 1995. Dokki is a half-sister to
Classic winner Coastal and Gr.1 winner Slew O’ Gold.
Senure (5, b. h. Nureyev/Diese by Diesis) won the Gr.1 United
Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park on 7-1-01. Senure, the 6-5
favorite, ridden by Robbie Davis, seemed primed to pass With
Anticipation down the lane, when With Anticipation veered out
slightly, causing Davis to check Senure and lose momentum. “My
horse was full of run and I had to grab a hold of him for four full
strides. He was courageous to come back and get beat a head,” said
jockey Davis.
The stewards debated just three minutes before placing Senure
first. Senure, who shipped in from California, was second to
Bienamado in his previous race, the Gr.1 Whittingham Handicap at
Hollywood Park on June 10th in his first start of 2001. Senure has
four wins in six starts in the U.S. after having started his career
in England. Senure is the third Gr.1 winner Juddmonte Farms has
bred by Nureyev (the others are Epsom Oaks winner Reams of Verse
and Pacific Classic winner Skimming). Senure’s dam is Gr.3 Prix
Corrida winner Diese by Diesis. Diese is a half-sister to multiple
Champion Xaar from the family of leading sires El Gran Senor and
Try My Best.
Date:
06 July 2001