File Photo Agate Road winning at his second start
The Breeders’ Cup World Championship beckons Agate Road after the China Horse Club graduate slewed his rivals with a devastating finish in the USD200,000 G2 Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct (NY, USA).
The Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable owned colt earned his place in the USD1,000,000 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1600m) with the G2 Pilgrim Stakes a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re in” qualification.
The handsome colt will now bid to better retired China Horse Club graduate Valiance. In 2020, Valiance stamped herself as a contender for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff when racing away with the G1 Spinster Stakes. A greater test again was levelled against her at the Breeders’ Cup in the form of champion Monomoy Girl, and Valiance did best of the rest when pressing her in the stretch before finishing second in that contest.
Agate Road has won two of his three career starts and is unlucky not to enter the end of year championship undefeated. Importantly, the G2 Pilgrim Stakes was his most complete performance to date.
The juvenile began cleaner from the gates than he did at start two and was like a coiled spring under the guidance of champion jockey Irad Ortiz Jr who was biding his time before making his move. When he did, the colt delivered a sustained sprint that won the day.
“He broke much better today than last time – that was the key,” Ortiz Jr. said.
“After that, I just bided my time to go. Before the quarter-pole, I hit the clear outside. I went a little wide, maybe four or five wide and he kept coming.
“Last time, he had too much to do and he still got there. That gave me a lot of confidence. It was a beautiful trip and I just lost a couple lengths in the last turn and I was comfortable with that. I trust the trainer– he told me the horse was ready.”
Agate Road was selected by Jacob West of West Bloodstock from the Book 1 draft of Highgate Sales at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Agate Road is the third foal of the China Horse Club’s former star juvenile Yellow Agate who made her mark in the G1 Frizette Stakes. Her first foal, Gasoline, is a three-time winner and a full-sister to Agate Road called Plentitude is a multiple winner and was a last start fourth in stakes company.
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