Octave wins the 2007 Coaching Club American Oaks
Octave wins the 2007 Coaching Club American Oaks
July 21, 2007
Before New York racing moves north to Saratoga, the top 3-year-old fillies on the East Coast go in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Belmont Park. Seven went to the gate in this 1 1/4 mile main track feature, with Mother Goose winner Octave sent off as the 1-2 favorite over 7-2 Folk and 4-1 Lear's Princess. Unfortunately, Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches did not enter due to a fever.
Folk set a pace of 23.91, 48.00, 1:12.25, and 1:36.47 while Octave, 20-1 Humble Janet, and Lear's Princess stayed close behind the whole way. At the top of the stretch, Octave closed the gap on the pacesetter, taking over the lead at the 3/16 pole. Under jockey John Velazquez, Octave held off the late move of Lear's Princess to win by 1/2 a length in 2:02.17. Pacesetter Folk hung on to be third, 3/4 length back of Lear's Princess, while Humble Janet was fourth.
Results chart
Octave takes her walk down Victory Lane
Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "She ran really good. She ran so many races and she had tough beats. But now, she's figured it out and she's won twice. She runs her heart out each time. When she gets to the front, she tends to wait on other horses. But I know she won't let them by."
Octave in the winner's circle
Jack Wolf of winning ownership group Starlight Stable said, "She was real game coming down the stretch. This horse always makes us hold our breath."
Octave heads back to the barn
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "It turned out to be a great race. This filly's been a gem of consistency. Back to back Grade 1 wins three weeks apart is huge. To win the Mother Goose and come back 3 weeks later in the Coaching Club at 1 1/4 miles is a real nice accomplishment. She's had a great career. I thought Johnny (Velazquez) rode her perfectly; he didn't let Folk get away too easy, but he kept her fresh enough to hold off Lear's Princess.
We'll keep our options open with her. I'm not sure where she'll go next."
Jockey Eibar Coa said, "It was a very good effort from her. She handled the dirt fine. Now, they know they can go either way. She was a little bit green today, and she still ran well. In the last 100 yards, I thought I had a chance to win because that is when she got it all together."
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin added, "Our filly ran a great race. Maybe we'll have to look at the Alabama now. It was a huge race.
I was hoping to be third because Grade 1 placing in a race like this is worth so much for her. To run that close to Octave was huge."
Third place finisher Folk was hustled to the front, set the pace along the rail under jockey Mike Luzzi but could not hold off Octave and Lear's Princess in the lane. The daughter of Quiet American improved her career record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 7 starts with earnings of $365,486 for owner Godolphin Racing and trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
July 21, 2007
Before New York racing moves north to Saratoga, the top 3-year-old fillies on the East Coast go in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Belmont Park. Seven went to the gate in this 1 1/4 mile main track feature, with Mother Goose winner Octave sent off as the 1-2 favorite over 7-2 Folk and 4-1 Lear's Princess. Unfortunately, Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches did not enter due to a fever.
Folk set a pace of 23.91, 48.00, 1:12.25, and 1:36.47 while Octave, 20-1 Humble Janet, and Lear's Princess stayed close behind the whole way. At the top of the stretch, Octave closed the gap on the pacesetter, taking over the lead at the 3/16 pole. Under jockey John Velazquez, Octave held off the late move of Lear's Princess to win by 1/2 a length in 2:02.17. Pacesetter Folk hung on to be third, 3/4 length back of Lear's Princess, while Humble Janet was fourth.
Results chart
Octave takes her walk down Victory Lane
Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "She ran really good. She ran so many races and she had tough beats. But now, she's figured it out and she's won twice. She runs her heart out each time. When she gets to the front, she tends to wait on other horses. But I know she won't let them by."
Octave in the winner's circle
Jack Wolf of winning ownership group Starlight Stable said, "She was real game coming down the stretch. This horse always makes us hold our breath."
Octave heads back to the barn
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "It turned out to be a great race. This filly's been a gem of consistency. Back to back Grade 1 wins three weeks apart is huge. To win the Mother Goose and come back 3 weeks later in the Coaching Club at 1 1/4 miles is a real nice accomplishment. She's had a great career. I thought Johnny (Velazquez) rode her perfectly; he didn't let Folk get away too easy, but he kept her fresh enough to hold off Lear's Princess.
We'll keep our options open with her. I'm not sure where she'll go next."
Jockey Eibar Coa said, "It was a very good effort from her. She handled the dirt fine. Now, they know they can go either way. She was a little bit green today, and she still ran well. In the last 100 yards, I thought I had a chance to win because that is when she got it all together."
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin added, "Our filly ran a great race. Maybe we'll have to look at the Alabama now. It was a huge race.
I was hoping to be third because Grade 1 placing in a race like this is worth so much for her. To run that close to Octave was huge."
Third place finisher Folk was hustled to the front, set the pace along the rail under jockey Mike Luzzi but could not hold off Octave and Lear's Princess in the lane. The daughter of Quiet American improved her career record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 7 starts with earnings of $365,486 for owner Godolphin Racing and trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
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