The Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
January 14, 2017

War Scent was purchased by Our Athletes last month in the auction for $50.020, and the new trainer knew exactly what to do with him.  Send him to GP for the Ft. Lauderdale and make sure that you have J R Leparoux in the saddle.   For obvious reasons, we don’t celebrate jockey achievements all that much, but to win three straight editions of a Grade 2 event certainly bears mentioning.  Leparoux won in 2015 with Make Change, and then last year led Sri Lanka to victory prior to this year with War Scent.  In total, the ten runnings of this race have seen two jockeys win 60% of them, as K J Desormeaux also has won three.    The win is special for War Scent as it kicks off his six year old season right where he left off last year.  For winning trainer Our Athletes, it is the first time that they have won this race.  Congratulations!  Let’s take a look at it!

1st- 3- War Scent (5/1)- Our eventual winner from Our Athletes got off to average start and would run in the middle of the field as they made their way into the first turn.  As they moved into the backstretch, he had six lengths to make up, though jockey J R Leparoux, knowing what it takes to win this race, knew he would need to be a little closer and seemed to nudge him for a bit more run at this point as others settled in.  Looked to make his move heading into the turn, and could only do so by going to the outside of West Northwest, meaning he would be about six wide.  This would not faze him, and he made up some ground in the turn despite that and was within a length and a half at the top of the stretch.  The pack was tight at this point, and you knew the champions would emerge from this quite well.  Indeed, it would be War Scent and Sir Tom with the most power strides, as each got by Speedy Conciliatory before settling it out between them.  In the closing moments, War Scent would have what it takes, and earn the victory, doing so in a time of 1:39.70.  War Scent is a six year old autogen gelding, bred as a yearling in New York by Aces High Ltd.  After spending the majority of his career with Mb Stables, he was purchased by Our Athletes in the December auction for $50.020.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 11- Sir Tom (9/1)- The former BC Mile champion, from Brave, was good out of the gate from his outside post position.  While running around the turn, he would ultimately settle in to a midpack position four and a half lengths off the lead.  Ran steady in the backstretch, as did several others, and began to make his push towards the front as they entered the final turn.  Handled the turn exceptionally well and was part of a wall in the middle of the field at the top of the stretch.  Dug down like a BC champion at this point to emerge clear of mostly everyone else, and ends up second.

3rd- 4- Speedy Conciliatory (14/1)- The entry from Cherrytee Hill Farm broke alertly from the gate and seemed poised to stalk the pace setter Final Decision, though instead chose to drop off a couple lengths from the quick pace.   Moving into the turn, he had advanced to third and seemed to have his intentions dead set on taking over the lead.  At the exit of the turn, the lead had become his, but it would it be a challenge to hold off a slew of hard chargers from behind.  Led by a length with a furlong to go, but could not hold off the top two champions.

4th- 5- Box Seat (82/1)- Making his second start in two weeks, the longshot from Kopites did not get involved early, and would be near the rear of the field in to the backstretch.  Stayed here for the backstretch run, and moving into the turn, he had to go what looked to be about 4-5 wide heading into the turn, but it would soon become forced into about 7-8 wide as many in the middle of the pack also looked to make moves.  Was within a length of War Scent with half a furlong to go, but settles for 4th in a tight photo.

5th- 12- Japan (5/2)- The unexpected post time favorite from Big Jd Racing went promptly to the rear of the field in the early going, ahead of only Fast As Lightning around the opening turn.  Hung around in the back as they moved into the turn, and had a ton of run saved up for the late stages.  Unfortunately for the trainer, so did just about everyone else.  There was no room to split anyone in the stretch, so he went as far outside as he could and hoped for the best.

6th- 8- West Northwest (8/1)- With early-2017 struggling jockey J J Castellano aboard, West Northwest seemed to start well out of the gate, and would run just off the lead early while rounding the opening turn about four wide.  Maintained a steady cruising speed over the backstretch and seemed to be in a good position as they moved into the top of the stretch.   He would just not be able to respond with the same power in his stride as the others, and saw several get by him.

7th- 1- Doctored (9/1)- The entry from Mb Stables found himself in the middle of the field in the early moments, running 7th and about five lengths from the lead as they moved into the backstretch.  Began moving forward heading into the final turn, which was about the same time as everyone else was.  Zulu Dancer was able to beat him to a preferred lane, though Doctored somehow squeezed in anyway.  Changed lanes in stretch hoping for better running order finish, but this would be it.

8th- 9- Tokyo Secret (4/1)- Good out of the gate for his trainer, Tiratzo, before ultimately deciding to settle in to a position three lengths out between Speedy Conciliatory and West Northwest.  Hung in there, but never made a push forward.  As many that were behind him began to advance, Tokyo Secret tried to hold off as many as he could, but would falter in the latter stages.

9th- 2- Zulu Dancer (47/1)- The Witeout Stables entry was not interested in the early pace and was content to run alongside the eventual winner War Scent in the early going, towards the rear of the field.  Began pushing forward as they moved into the turn, and seemed to do well, initially, maneuvering the traffic that was in front of him.  He ran well to the wire, but so did many others, and in a tight finish, especially mid-pack, he missed out.

10th- 10- Final Decision (105/1)- Starting better then he would finish, the Canny Lodge entry jumped out to the lead and led the way into the opening turn.  Ran the opening quarter in :22.92 and half in :45.78.  Led and tried to hang tough for as long as he could, but would not be able to measure up in the stretch.

11th- 7- Fast As Lightning (50/1)- It was a slower thunder rumble for the Alegria entry out of the gate, as went right to the back of the field.  Had seven and a half lengths to make up at the top of the backstretch.  Looked like he might be poised for a run in the turn, but could only run level with others that were advancing, and never was a factor.

12th- 6- Sonic (9/1)- So much for the hunch that I had with this one.  He seemed to start well for D J C Racing Stables early and was second moving into the first turn.  Momentarily challenged Final Decision for the lead before settling in behind him for the backstretch.  Had no answer when the field tightened up around the turn and would be left behind.

Track: Firm
Time: :22⁴  :45³  1:09¹  1:39³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 11 Paid 68.90
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 11 – 4 Paid 392.00

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES