Bottas punches Breeders’ Cup ticket with G2 Pilgrim score

Dahman’s Bottas outlasted Heeere’s Johnny in a thrilling stretch duel to earn a sweep of the card’s stakes for trainer Miguel Clement in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.

In victory, Bottas earned a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on October 31 at Del Mar as part of the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. Two races earlier, Clement sent out Intricate Spirit to win the Grade 3, $175,000 Futurity, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. 

Bottas entered from a last-to-first 2 1/4-length debut score going 1 1/16 miles on August 23 Travers Day at Saratoga Race Course. On Friday, Bottas validated his performance with a stalking victory when gamely holding off the Grade 3-placed maiden Heeere’s Johnny. 

"Hopefully this will give him more experience because it's only going to be his third start when he runs in the Breeders' Cup,” Clement said. “He's a top-class horse and he overcomes adversity.”

Piloted by Manny Franco, the Vekoma dark bay exited post 4 a half-step slow, but managed to settle into 5th-of-10 stalking the pace set by longshot Truman’s Commander, who led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.38 seconds over the firm turf. 

Bottas traveled comfortably along the rail in the first turn to the inside of Capital Partner, as Truman’s Commander was pressured mildly by fellow longshots Baytown Dreamer and Teleport down the backside through the half-mile in 48.58. 

“He was forward today, but the right way – he was taking me, so I was happy with the way he was traveling early in the race,” said Franco, aboard for the first time in the afternoon as debut pilot Flavien Prat rode at Keeneland. 

Bottas maintained his midpack position entering the second turn and Franco remained patient as Heeere’s Johnny drew up alongside under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano and put his head in front through three-quarters in 1:13.10.

Once straightened for home, Franco angled into a tight window between Capital Partner and Heeere’s Johnny as Truman’s Commander fought back on the front end. Bottas re-claimed a head advantage over Heeere’s Johnny through the seam, and the pair stormed past Truman’s Commander within the final furlong, with neither horse wanting to settle for second. 

“I had a little bit of a seam at the quarter pole because Javier was outside me. As soon as my horse got the spot that I wanted, he fought hard,” Franco said. “He was fighting hard with the other horse outside. I knew he was going to have more, and he did it.”

Bottas and Heeere’s Johnny battled to the wire with a jump on the other closers including Let’s Be Frank and Scope, who surged from deep. Castellano asked Heeere’s Johnny for more, but Bottas was game with his narrow lead and held his head advantage all the way to the wire in a final time of 1:42.63. 

“He’s got a nice kick,” Franco said. “I’ve got to give credit to the horse outside, too, because I feel like my horse was running, but he was right next to me still.”

Let’s Be Frank finished third one length back, with Scope rallying for fourth another two lengths back. Noble Dynasty, Capital Partner, Teleport, Truman’s Commander, Baytown Dreamer and Ball of Fire completed the order of finish. Repentless was scratched and is entered in the Grade 2 Bourbon on Sunday at Keeneland.  

"Great trip. Manny got a great position. He wasn't as far back today,” said Clement. “He had to wait a bit for the stretch - I know he was hindered once or twice in the stretch - but still, he was in the right position and Manny was able to get the job done. He's a very good horse.” 

Clement said Bottas is ready to take on a cutback to one-mile in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. 

"I'm not worried. I think he has gears,” Clement said. “You don't see that often on the turf. He was able to accelerate and accelerate again at the top of the stretch. Very impressive."

Castellano said the Ray Handal-trained Heeere’s Johnny was admirable in defeat. The Oscar Performance bay was second for his third consecutive start in four career races. He was previously second twice to Final Score, including in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 With Anticipation last out on August 28 at the Spa, and that rival is entered back in Sunday’s Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland. 

“He didn’t break good out of the gate, broke slow out of the gate, but I had a beautiful trip and I like the way he did it,” Castellano said. “I liked the way he finished – we hooked up to the speed and in the last part of the race with the winner, they follow each other and he finished really good.

"They finished really good, the winner and myself, it’s just he got the jump and he beat me just a little bit, but I’m happy with the way he did it,” Castellano added. 
 
Bottas, a $300,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, is a half-brother to stakes-winner Parenting out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Iadorakid, a half-sister to Canadian Champion Turf Male El Tormenta and Grade 3-winner Zero Tolerance. He banked $110,000 in victory while returning $4.48 for a $2 win bet as the post-time favorite. 

Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont at the Big A with a loaded 12-race card that features a pair of Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for 2-year-olds with the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne [Juvenile] in Race 7 and the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo [Juvenile Fillies Turf] in Race 8. The stacked program is supported by the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette, part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series in Race 6, the Grade 2, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational in Race 4 and the restricted $125,000 Discovery in Race 2. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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