Going into the $4.6 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), it appeared as if Gold Phoenix was the horse for the turf course at Del Mar.
In any case, this summer time he had received the grassy Del Mar Handicap (G2T) for the third straight time.
But all of that modified within the 2:26.07 it took for Godolphin’s Insurgent’s Romance to resurrect some candy reminiscences from two years in the past.
Serving up an encore of his 2022 victory within the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland, the 6-year-old gelding posted a neck victory over Rousham Park within the Nov. 2 Turf at Del Mar that lifted the extremely achieved world traveler’s earnings previous the $10 million mark.
“He by no means lets us down,” mentioned coach Charlie Appleby after the homebred Dubawi gelding received for the fifteenth time in 22 begins and pushed his earnings to $11,777,574.
But the enjoyment of the victory by Insurgent’s Romance was tempered by the demise of Jayarebe, who collapsed throughout the gallop-out for the 1 1/2-mile turf stakes.
The three-year-old colt educated by Brian Meehan who completed seventh suffered what’s believed to be a cardiac episode and died regardless of remedy by a staff of veterinary specialists led by Dr. Brent Cassady. Jockey Sean Levey was not harm within the incident.
“We all know what this sport is like and the way courageous these horses are. I really feel extraordinarily sorry for the connections and for the horse himself,” Appleby mentioned. “It’s a troublesome recreation with this facet of it and it makes you recognize it when a horse like (Insurgent’s Romance) does it on the age of 6. It exhibits how robust these horses are and the way a lot they take pleasure in it.”
In changing into the primary horse to win two editions of the Turf in non-consecutive years, Saturday’s win put an exclamation level on an impressive coaching job by Appleby and his staff that introduced Insurgent’s Romance again to high type after his 2023 marketing campaign was upended by clipping heels and falling within the Bowling Inexperienced Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course.
“We had been planning to return again to the Breeders’ Cup (in 2023), however then he had that hiccup at Saratoga,” Appleby mentioned a few gelding who was received in Asia, Europe, and North America. “He clipped heels after which he misplaced all his confidence. He misplaced all of his mojo and we needed to construct all of that backup.”
After a fourth-place end within the Joe Hirsch Turf Basic (G1T), Appleby gave Insurgent’s Romance two months off and the gelding responded with a Dec. 23 win at Kempton. He then received 4 of 5 2024 begins earlier than the Turf, together with three group 1 victories.
“He went to (Kempton) and received, and, like all athlete, as soon as they get into that rhythm and routine of successful, it does wonders for them,” Appleby mentioned.
Beneath William Buick, Insurgent’s Romance was near the tempo all through within the Turf. He was third after a half-mile in :48.77 and moved into second behind the pacesetting 51-1 longshot Cabo Spirit (who completed twelfth within the discipline of 13) with 1 / 4 of a mile left.
From there, Insurgent’s Romance surged to a 3 1/2-length lead on the eighth pole and held off a late cost by Japan’s Rousham Park to pay $5.80 because the 9-5 favourite.
“He’s an incredible horse. He all the time appears to discover a manner,” Buick mentioned.
As for the potential for a 3rd BC win at Del Mar subsequent yr, Appleby mentioned, “You by no means know with this previous boy.”
Japanese runners from Sunday Racing accomplished the trifecta as Rousham Park, a son of Harbinger educated by Hiroyasu Tanaka, completed 1 1/2 lengths forward of Shahryar , a son of Deep Impression educated by Hideaki Fujiwara who was additionally third in final yr’s Turf.
The highest American hopeful, LSU Stables’ Far Bridge , had some site visitors points on the ultimate flip and completed ninth.
A son of the Road Cry mare Minidress, he’s the fourth of her seven foals and a half brother to grade 1 winner Measured Time . She additionally has a yearling full brother to Insurgent’s Romance.
The victory was the nineteenth for Godolphin on the Breeders’ Cup, probably the most by a person possession entity. The full for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s premier worldwide operation extends to twenty with a win by Darley Stud.
“We get the entire enterprise of worldwide campaigning and what Charlie has accomplished with Insurgent’s Romance is a traditional instance of what we will accomplish that effectively in Europe, Asia, Dubai, and right here on the highest stage,” mentioned Godolphin consultant Hugh Anderson. “It’s what we do greatest.”
