Improbable reaffirmed his status as one of American racing’s elite runners when streeting rivals in the time-honoured G1 Hollywood Gold Cup. In doing so, the handsome chestnut joined an honour roll that includes Vino Rosso and Accelerate (2019 and 2018 Eclipse Award winners), champions Cigar, Affirmed, Round Table and Citation and dates back to 1938 when the heroic Seabiscuit was triumphant.
It was a second ‘major’ for the Bob Baffert trained entire who stamped himself as a rising star in 2018 when rounding out an undefeated juvenile season with a five-length triumph in the G1 Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity Stakes. The margin of victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup was not as significant however, the three-and-a-quarter length winning margin to an easing down Improbable, was a clear measure of his dominance and a suggestion that he may be in for a very exciting second half to 2020.
This horse has been training so well. Drayden [jockey Drayden Van Dyke] had him in the perfect spot and he had plenty left for the run home,” said Hall of Fame trainer, Baffert in the Bloodhorse.com.
“I’m happy for the team. Everyone thought this horse was a turf horse, and I thought he needed the dirt. This horse is only going to get better.”
Van Dyke was gushing in his praise for the WinStar Farm/China Horse Club talisman who was posting his fifth career win.
“It’s awesome. Walking back, it’s just kind of getting it into my head, ‘I just won the Hollywood Gold Cup.’ There’s so much history in that race,” the young rider said post-race.
“It was how he has been working in the mornings. I worked him several times going seven furlongs, and these gallop outs that he would give me, it was just unbelievable. He was sitting on a big one, and he ran a big one.”
The last two winners of the Hollywood Gold Cup have gone on to salute on the biggest of stages in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. This year’s edition will be held at the picturesque Keeneland Racecourse in the heart of Bluegrass country Kentucky.
Improbable was a USD200,000 purchase and has made light of that price tag with prize money now totalling over USD1.1 million. More significant again is his valuation as a commercial stallion once his racing days are done. While he is almost certain to retire to WinStar Farm at the end of the season, the measure of his commercial appeal may rise further if he can continue his assert his dominance over the coming six months.
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