11/07/2020

 9   KEE        BC Mile – Grade 1
  $2,000.000         3yo&Up         1m Turf                 122lbs

I’m a firm believer in horses-for-courses here at HRP, and Iron Nation proved that to be a good idea as the bay 3yo stayed right behind the pace, inched up turning for home and then turned on the jets in the late stages to take the BC Mile (GI) by a neck in a final time of 1:33.  An exact tactic and outcome to his Transylvania (GIII) over this surface back in the spring.  This was the fifth season win for the Nakamura Stables trained gelding and obviously his biggest win to date.  17/1 shot Ohtani was a neck back in the second spot and Show Shocker closed from the clouds to gain third, a neck in from of Spiral.

The field loaded into the gate on the firm turf course and as they got away from the gate, Personal Beliefs was away quickest of all from the far outside, Going Gone and B N Broadway from the inside, Pure Gifts, Apocalypse Rising, back to the rail for Duke Or Earl, Iron Nation back towards the outside, Ohtani was next, then Spiral on the extreme outside.  Kimura and Bold Express alongside, Time Warrior, Show Shocker and Gordon Drive was away slowest of this group.

The field made their way around the clubhouse turn and onto the backside, now five and a half furlongs to run and  Apocalypse Rising had gained the lead and the rail.  Personal Beliefs applying pressure from the outside, Ohtani between that pair, then a gap back to the trio of Going Gone, Pure Gifts between horses and Iron Nation on the outside.  Back to the rail for B N Broadway, Duke Or Earl a length behind that one, another length to a line that included Spiral from the outside, Bold Express and Show Shocker between horses and Kimura from the inside, then another length to Timer Warrior and Gordon Drive could see them all.

Moving down the backside and now nearing the far turn with slightly more than three furlongs to run, Personal Beliefs now up to take a three-quarters of a length lead.  Apocalypse Rising and Ohtani on his inside as Iron Nation moved up quickly.  A gap of two back to Going Gone, Pure Gifts and B N Broadway in a line, another length to Spiral now five wide.  Another length to Bold Express in the three path, Show Shocker on his outside, Duke Or Earl on the rail and Kimura on his outside, then a gap back to Time Warrior and Gordon Drive.

Swing around the turn and into the lane, they went past the three sixteenths pole and like clockwork, the drive to the wire was on as the field bunched up.  Ohtani was looking Personal Beliefs in the eye, Iron Nation right there with a clear path out wide, a length to a wall that included Apocalypse Rising along the inside, B N Broadway, Going Gone and Spiral from the far outside, a length back to another wall of horses… Kimura on the outside of Duke Or Earl, out wider to Pure Gifts and Show Shocker, Bold Express down the center of that group, Time Warrior trying to get going from the rail as Gordon Drive drifted widest of all for the trip to the wire.

Down the lane and inside the final sixteenth, they were all-out to the wire as Iron Nation moved up to put a nose in front, Ohtani trying to find more with Spiral and Show Shocker moving together from the extreme outside… but as they hit the wire, this was all about Iron Nation and he went under the wire in front by a neck for the victory.  Ohtani continue on well to take the second spot, a quarter length in front of Show Shocker in third.  Spiral was a neck back in fourth, Bold Express fifth, the a length back to a group that went head/nose/head/nose… Kimura in sixth, B N Broadway seventh, Duke Or Earl eighth, Apocalypse Rising ninth, Going Gone and Personal Beliefs in a dead-heat for tenth, Time Warrior twelfth, Gordon Drive thirteenth and Pure Gifts closed this one out. 

Iron Nation is a 3yo bay gelded son of Telling Ya – Chanceux, by Bon Soir and he was bred in Cal by his owner, Nakamura Stables.  This was his sixth win from thirteen starts, five of those wins coming this season, and he now has lifetime earnings of $2,501.000.  Congratulations to Iron Nations and his connections!

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Firm           Time: :23   :45⁴  1:09   1:33
$1 Exacta: 11 – 8 Paid 95.40              $1 Trifecta: 11 – 8 – 7 Paid 820.60
Scratched: Great Gallant, Sundays Sauce
 

Categories: BC 2018-20, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP