Rip Van Winkle, under a patient ride by Johnny Murtagh, caught Prince Khalid Abdullah's Twice over and Byword in the final furlong to land victory Tuesday in the Juddmonte International at York.
Twice Over led Byword as the field rolled into the late going on the historic Knavesmire in northern England. But Murtagh, heeding the guidance of trainer Aidan O'Brien, had Rip Van Winkle just where he wanted. With the race on the line, Rip Van Winkle kicked into high gear and got home first by 1/2 length over Twice Over. Byword was 3/4 length farther back in third.
Dick Turpin, supplemented to the race during the weekend, was never a factor.
The strong showing by the top three finishers gives their trainers lots of options for the remainder of the racing year.
Rip Van Winkle, for example, was a bust last fall at the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, finishing a fading 10th, some 17 lengths behind Zenyatta. But O'Brien said that's no barrier to another try at the $5 million race – or the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile -- for the now-4-year-old son of Galileo.
"Last year the Breeders' Cup was a washout because he was tired coming into the race," O'Brien said. "This year we have geared him for the second part of the season and you would love to go back to America again, either for the Mile or the Classic."
He also said he "could look at" the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot next month – a 1-mile race Rip Van Winkle won before traveling to the States. "We wouldn't mind stepping back to a mile again now," he said.
O'Brien said his colt's ability to win at Tuesday's 10 furlongs was due in part to Murtagh's ride. "They didn't go very fast and we were just looking to see him relax," the trainer said. "That was the important thing. Johnny was marvelous. He just let him take his time, come into the race and let things happen."
Trainer Henry Cecil said Twice Over also has options for the highest-level races. "We'll see how he is, look at the Champion Stakes, the Breeders' Cup and the (Dubai) World Cup," he said.
Wherever Twice Over goes, Byword likely will chase other prizes.
In one sense, Rip Van Winkle's victory was ironic as it snatched the top prize from the sponsor of the race. Prince Khalid owns Juddmonte Farms, which sponsors and names the race.
In other early-week developments:
Arlington Park
Shortly after the Juddmonte International was made official, Arlington Park drew post positions for Saturday's International Festival of Racing, including the 28th running of the Arlington Million.
Defending Million champion Gio Ponti drew No. 6 in a field of 10 and was installed as the 7-5 favorite. Traditionally a favorite of European owners and trainers, the Million's overseas contingent this year may have suffered from Gio Ponti's presence. Of the three European challengers, Tazeez, in gate No. 9, was listed at the shortest odds, 6-1.
No horse has won the Million two straight years. Geo Ponti, who would have won last year's Breeders' Cup Classic but for Zenyatta, hopes to be the first.
The $750,000 Beverly D., for fillies and mares, drew a well-balanced field of 10 despite the recent death in California of Tuscan Evening, who won the final local prep for this race and was expected to return as the favorite. Among the contenders is German-bred and French-raced Éclair de Lune, who finished a gallant second to Tuscan Evening last time out. She is owned by Arlington Chairman Richard L. Duchossois. The race is named for Duchossois' late wife.
The $400,000 Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds drew the shortest field with seven entered. But it may be a key race for future grass racing in America. Posted as the even-money favorite is Paddy O'Prado, who has won two straight graded grass events since finishing third in the Kentucky Derby and sixth in the Preakness Stakes. His primary challenger may be Workin for Hops, who came second to Paddy O'Prado in the Colonial Turf Cup, then easily won the American Derby at Arlington in his last start. The lone European challenger, Wigmore Hall, appears to be an outsider.
Saratoga
The placing judges took a break after the finish of Monday's $150,000 Saratoga Special for 2-year-olds as the heavy, odds-on favorite, Kantharos, drew off in the stretch to win by 7 1/4 lengths. Bail Out the Cat was second, 11 3/4 lengths better than Manchurian High. And it was yet another 9 1/2 lengths back to the final finisher, Blue Right By.
Kantharos, a Kentucky-bred Lion Heart colt, let Blue Right By and Bail Out the Cat carve out the early fractions, then went by when asked. He ran the 6 1/2 furlongs on a muddy, sealed surface in 1:18.63 for jockey Garrett Gomez.
The chestnut colt now has won all three of his starts. The two previous were by margins of 11 3/4 lengths and 9 1/2 lengths – the latter in the Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs, where he stumbled badly at the start.
"I just tried to sit up there, be the best passenger and stay out of his way to let him do his job," said Gomez, who inherited the mount from the injured Robby Albarado.
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen addressed the issue of distance, noting Kantharos hesitated when he got to the lead. "But late he really looked good and smooth and like he'll go further, which is what everybody wants to know right now," Asmussen said. "What he's done at these sprint distances is very impressive and brilliant. But we want to be greedy and get a little bit more."
