The 20th Running of the G1 BC Classic
Saturday, November 5, 2022
KEE Race #16 $6,000.000
3+ 122/126 (F&M 119/122) Lbs 11/4
Course Record-2:00.71 (Charleys Latte-2020)
Stakes Record-1:58.57 (Maruzensky-2012)
Winning Trainers: 15 Mb Stables (4x)
Winning Riders: 16 M. Berry, J.L. Ortiz, T. Gaffalione (2x)
Saturday’s G1 BC Classic field of 14 included 11 G1 winners. The fact that Individuation was sent-off favored at odds of $3.30 to 1 was evidence that the HRP community held him in high-esteem. Considering the manner in which the Mb Stables-trained 3yo gelding won the $6,000.000 Classic, Individuation must have thought he still had something to prove. Racing no less than 4-wide at any point of the 11/4 Classic, Individuation stormed home to score a decisive length-and-a-half victory.
Away from post 10, Individuation (Jung o/o Dawning Earl Grey) broke with the 2nd flight behind a 4-way go for the lead; however, as he rounded the first turn, his trainer was a little concerned. “Being drawn in post 10, I knew he was bound to be a bit wide when all of the horses settled, but, going into the race, I hoped he’d save more ground into the first turn. Not only did he get caught wide entering the turn, but when All Take and Combat Wombat moved inside of him, Individuation was moved out to the six path as he prepared to exit the bend. “Unfortunately the group he broke with, he was widest of four, and, to make matters worse, he was pushed even further around the turm by some eager horses to his inside. I was definitely worried at that point. The only horse all weekend who won that wide was Perfect Class. It’s very tough to win at this level of the game giving up ground to your competition.”
Individuation entered the KEE backstretch racing in 11th position and some 6-lengths off of the pace being set by Tempestuous. The eventual winner began inching closer and he had moved to 9th as he began to approach the turn for home. It would be in that final turn that Individuation started his winning move despite the trepidation his trainer was feeling. “I started to feel better about how he was going down the backside” Mb Stables said. “He lost a lot of ground around the first turn but, on the backside, he seemed to be moving a bit better than those around him who were settling into position.” As Individuation began his bid in earnest, “I was still worried he would be pushed out even wider if there was a horse full of run towards the inside, but as they entered the turn it became clear that none of the horses from the last group were making up enough ground.” Individuation entered the turn in 8th and entered the stretch in 4th and he was moving with tremendous momentum.
That move eased his trainer’s state-of-mind, “By the time they hit the final turn it looked, to me, he was moving best of any of the horses with clear running room.” Individuation still had work to do, despite his eye-catching move, but he quickly put the issue to rest. The winner seized control at the 5/16 pole and Mb Stables began to dream. “When Gigabyte got clear run at the top of the stretch and Individuation continued to outrun him, I knew Individuation was going to win the Classic.” The sublime gelding continued strongly through the wire to post a 11/2 length victory in the G1 BC Classic.
Sports Page, using a brave rally up the rail, would earn runner-up honors as he hit the wire two lengths ahead of Positive Id as the latter rallied some 8-wide. Gigabyte continued to run on to secure the final check in 4th.
For the season, Individuation improves to 9-6-2-0 with earnings of $6,437.600 and likely secures 3yo male honors while putting forth a very strong resume for HOY. Congratulations to Individuation, the 4th winner of the G1 BC Classic for Mb Stables!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
