Woodward Stakes (Grade 1)

HAD Breeders’ Cup favourite Flightline been shown a replay of his biggest rival Life Is Good winning last Saturday’s Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, he might well have cast a rather cold eye.

Despite winning by a length and a half, Life Is Good’s performance had none of the dazzle of Flightline’s two wins this season.

The Todd Pletcher-trained four-year-old was 1/20 favourite to beat three rivals but encountered a sloppy Aqueduct track and briefly had to be asked to race a bit faster.

WinStar Farm’s $4 million earner had a comfortable length and a quarter to spare over a persistent Law Professor in the end.

“It was comfortable. We wanted to win, but we didn’t want to put on a show,” said WinStar Farm’s CEO, president, and racing manager Elliott Walden. “It wasn’t too hard of a race, and it should set him up for the next one.”

Confirmed

Despite some suggestions that the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile could be an option, connections confirmed that the matchup everyone wants to see, Flightline vs. Life Is Good in the Classic is still on.

It was a pleasing return on a different type of surface and especially after he had needed some treatment for overheating on his last racecourse appearance when winning the Whitney at a hot Saratoga in August. Life Is Good, a son of Into Mischief was winning his ninth race in 11 starts and a fourth Grade 1, pushing his earnings to $4,361,700.

Breaking from the rail, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. broke quickly with Life Is Good and moved out.

“There was not too much speed in the race and the first part of the race, there was a lot of water. I wanted to get off the rail and was able to do it. He broke fast, and he stayed there (on the lead) the whole time,” the winning rider was quoted by BloodHorse.

The four-year-old went even splits of 24.40secs, and 48.60secs for the first quarters. On the final turn, Law Professor moved alongside Life Is Good but under urging from Ortiz, the bay colt moved away from the 26/1 outsider, covering the nine furlongs in 1m 49.57secs.

“It was the logical tactics for today, but I don’t think it’s his preferred running style. His real weapon is his high-cruising speed and the ability to keep going,” Pletcher said. How he attempts to handle Flightline’s cruising speed will be the highlight next month.

Two-year-olds

There does not appear to be a dominant two-year-old in the US yet and the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes went to Chad Brown with the Good Magic colt Blazing Sevens who ran away from Verifying and the favourite, Gulfport, to win by three and a quarter lengths for owners Rodeo Creek Racing LLC. He had won his maiden at Saratoga but was only third to Forte in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.

Repole Stable’s filly Chocolate Gelato fought off You’re My Girl coming out of the turn to win the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes by a length on a sloppy track at Aqueduct last Sunday and gain a place in the Breeders’ Cup.

Ortiz gave Chocolate Gelato a patient ride along the rail in the early going, when You’re My Girl led to a half mile in 46.90secs.

As the field entered the turn, Ortiz weaved through and came around to the outside of You’re My Girl to take the lead entering the stretch.