Seabhac strikes late in G3 Pilgrim

by Najja Thompson

Making only his third career start and wearing blinkers for the first time, Donegal Racing's Seabhac rallied late to break his maiden, winning the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Breaking from post 4 with Luis Saez aboard, the pair stalked from second position as Looking Ready led the field of eight through fractions of 24.61 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, with the half in 49.51.

At the quarter-pole, stablemate Maraud began to make a run toward the leader shifting from the two-path to the rail while 6-5 post-time favorite Voting Control began to make his way from the back of the pack. 

Grabbing the lead at the eighth-pole, Seabhac held off Maraud and a late charging Voting Control to secure the victory by a half-length.

The winning time for the 1 1/6 miles distance on the inner turf was 1:43.48.

"It was just a good trip," said Saez. "It was pretty exciting. He broke pretty good. He was right there, and when I asked him at the three-eighths, he just took off. When he came into the stretch he was running. I can't wait to ride him next time."

Returning $12.80 for a $2 win wager, the son of Scat Daddy boosted his career earnings to $144,100. 

Finishing second by a half-length in his debut at Saratoga Race Course on August 5, Seabhac followed up with a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 With Anticipation before finally putting things together today, winning trainer Todd Pletcher said.

"I think blinkers and experience; a combination of those things helped," said Pletcher." "He ran good races both times at Saratoga. He just encountered a little bit of traffic, especially in his first start. He seems like a talented colt who is still figuring it out." 

"We were hoping he would break a little more alert and put himself in a good spot. If you watch the replay of the [Grade 3] With Anticipation, he got stopped pretty hard at the quarter pole and it was kind of an impossible spot to rally from, but he still closed well. Johnny [Velazquez, rider on Seabhac's first two starts] just said if we use blinkers, he should have a little more confidence, and he was right."

Following Voting Control in second was Maraud, Looking Ready, Morrison, Stolen Pistol, Evaluator and Desert Stone completing the order of finish.