Janet Napolitiano Photo

Lost Ark leads Pletcher-trained trifecta in off-the-turf G3 Jockey Club Derby

by Mary Eddy

Harrell Ventures’ Lost Ark sailed to victory to lead a Todd Pletcher-trained trifecta in Saturday’s off-the-turf running of the Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational for sophomores at Belmont at the Big A, which was contested at 1 1/4 miles on the main track after it was originally slated for 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf.

Lost Ark, a half-brother to the Pletcher-trained reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nest, notched the second stakes score of his career with an off-the-pace move under Kendrick Carmouche, splashing home three-quarter lengths in front of rallying stablemate Classic Catch.

“He's [Lost Ark] shown a lot of ability on the dirt and I thought Kendrick did a good job of letting him run into that first turn and got a good position on our stablemate's outside shoulder,” said Byron Hughes, Pletcher’s Belmont-based assistant. “He was able to kick home and got the job done.”

The son of Violence emerged from the outermost post 5 and kept back as Fearless Soldier broke best of all and drew clear to mark an opening quarter-mile in 23.91 seconds and the half-mile in 48.21 over the sloppy and sealed main track.

Down the backstretch, the Pletcher-trained Classic Catch raced last under Florent Geroux after being squeezed at the start and made a move to split rivals Dataman and Anglophile in attempt of making an outside run at the top pair. Fearless Soldier held command into the turn as Lost Ark ranged up to his outside under steady coaxing from Carmouche.

Fearless Solider clung to a precarious lead along the rail at the top of the stretch as a paddling Lost Ark inched his way up to take charge nearing the sixteenth pole with Classic Catch giving chase down the center of the course to take up second. But there was no catching Lost Ark, who completed the course in 2:03.97 and become the first American-based horse to capture this event in its fourth running.

Classic Catch held place honors by 3 1/4 lengths over Fearless Soldier, who fended off Dataman by a head for show. Anglophile completed the order of finish. Measured Time, Faraday, Webslinger and Mondego were scratched.

Lost Ark wore blinkers for the first time in the afternoon, an equipment change Carmouche said allowed his colt to race comfortably near the front end rather than his usual stalk-and-pounce tactics.

“They put blinkers on him and I thought he should have been forward. They wanted me to put him forward,” Carmouche said. “I was sitting in a perfect spot the whole way around there. It was going to be whoever quickened at the end, and none of them quickened. We just galloped around there. I’m glad it came off the turf. I thought I had a decent shot on the grass, but I had an even bigger shot on the dirt.”

Whisper Hill Farm’s Classic Catch, a dark bay son of Classic Empire, was a winner of an off-the-turf allowance going the 10-furlong distance last out on August 9 at Saratoga Race Course. Geroux said the decision to split rivals was necessary after his troubled break.

“The trip was OK. I got squeezed very hard leaving the gate and I think it cost me the race to be honest,” said Geroux. “I thought the fractions were pretty good and we didn't go too slow, but I had to make a move at the three-eighths pole and I think that's probably what I needed for the last eighth of a mile. I was just behind the eight ball from the beginning which is not ideal."

Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables, Lost Ark, who banked $275,000 in victory, rebounded from a third-place effort in the Grade 3 Saranac on September 1 at Saratoga Race Course where he made his turf debut. In addition to the Jockey Club Derby, Lost Ark also boasts a win in last year’s Sapling over the Monmouth Park main track. He now boasts a record of 8-4-0-1 with total purse earnings of $538,600 and returned $9.70 for a $2 win ticket. 

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card, featuring the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame in Race 3, the Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, in Race 5, the Grade 3, $150,000 Noble Damsel in Race 7 and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron in Race 8. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern. 

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A 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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