CHC, WinStar and First Go’s American History secured his spot in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships with a late-rallying victory in Saturday’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.
Away last of the six, the son of Constitution trailed the field early as favorites Coach Pope and QB Rocket brawled on the front end. Improving his position to be third entering the turn, the chestnut was still a good eight lengths back off the dueling leaders at the top of the stretch.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez continued to ride American History confidently, despite the fact the colt refused to switch leads, and they surged clear in the final strides to secure the win by a length.
“He broke a little slower than I wanted him to and was a little far back the first part of the race, but I got him to save some ground, and he took it very well,” Velazquez said. “On the backstretch he got into the bridle, and I got into a nice cruising speed. I was very comfortable. Then, around the second turn, he just kept coming, he just kept giving me more and more and more, and down the lane he got there. He took dirt pretty good, and that’s a plus. He got schooled pretty good today.”
With this victory, American History also earned a spot in the gate for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Oct. 30 and 10 points towards next year’s GI Kentucky Derby.
“This is a very important win and we couldn’t be more excited,” said CHC’s Christie DeBernardis. “This race has produced three of the last six Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winners and, in turn, 2-year-old champions. In addition to securing a spot in the Breeders’ Cup, this is a stallion-making race.”
She continued, “We have always thought well of this colt and Todd has been quite high on him. We were all itching to get him around two turns and he justified our faith and then some. We look forward to what looks like a very bright future for him.”
An $825,000 KEESEP purchase, American History uncorked a powerful rally to graduate by almost eight lengths on debut sprinting at Saratoga Aug. 22. He was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ for that effort.