Stayers' Watch: Power Lunch Stakes, Valedictory Stakes · 7.12.09

The 6-year-old race mare Borrowing Base caught odds-on favourite Atoned in deep stretch to win the Power Lunch Stakes at Aqueduct on 29 November. Borrowing Base rallied on the final turn racing four-wide, continued to gain ground in the stretch, and beat Atoned by less than a length. Jane’s Kid got up for third. Time for the 1 3/4 miles on Aqueduct’s main dirt track: 3:03.92.

Just over a week later, Cloudy’s Knight showed that his close finish in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon was no fluke by winning the 1 3/4 mile Valedictory Stakes on 6 December, Woodbine’s closing day for 2009. As in the Marathon, the 9-year-old gelding gained the lead, then lost it in the late stages, only to fight back into contention approaching the wire. However, while he lost the Marathon by a short nose to Man of Iron, the Valedictory would have a much happier result for him and his human connections.

Cloudy’s Knight wanted to run from the start, and jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. finally gave him his head as the field came down the stretch for the first time. He took the lead after 6 furlongs and opened up a three-length lead around the clubhouse turn. The rest of the field slowly moved up on him through the backstretch, and Eagle Poise took over entering the far turn. However, the big chestnut refused to cave in, and fought back to regain the lead inside the 1/8-pole. Eagle Poise continued to challenge, but Cloudy’s Knight dug in under the urging of Homeister, and drew away to win by a length. Pool Play settled for third, another 3/4-length back. Time for the 1 3/4 miles on Polytrack: 2:59.32.

Champion Stayer Award standings — update:

  1. Cloudy’s Knight — 18 points
  2. Champs Elysees — 14 points
  3. Brass Hat — 14 points
  4. Midships — 12 points
  5. Summer Bird — 10 points
  6. Man of Iron — 10 points
  7. Conduit — 10 points
  8. Interpatation — 10 points
  9. Just As Well — 10 points
  10. Telling — 10 points
  11. Spring House — 10 points
  12. Spice Route — 10 points
  13. Perfect Shower — 10 points

Cloudy’s Knight’s score in the ungraded Valedictory, coupled with wins in the G3 Kentucky Cup Turf and Sycamore Stakes and second place in the Marathon, move him to the top of the standings. While many of the horses further down the rankings can boast more overall talent — Champs Elysees and Summer Bird, in particular — based on his recent form Cloudy’s Knight is arguably now the top pure stayer in North America. He is also the only one listed to have earned points from racing on two surfaces (grass and synthetic).

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What do you think?

  1. POSITION is, strangely enough, almost more important in dirt marathons than middle distance racing. If you horse has good position, then the latter aspects of fatigue are less a problem to overcome later in an event. Look at the Belmont as an example: FEW, if any, come from far out of it.

    — Dr. T. Yatcak · Dec 8, 08:40 AM · #

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