9/4/2021

   12    SAR     The JC Gold Cup (GI)  [BC]

$1,000.000      3yo&Up     1 1/4m    Dirt          3yo 120lbs  Older 124lbs

The Green Card keeps the hot hand going, giving you the exacta in Saturday’s JC Gold Cup (GI), with a 16/1 shot on top and a 13/1 shot in second… not bad.  And when the dust settled in this one, Asgar’s So Profound makes it three consecutive Grade I wins, taking this big purse by two lengths in a final running time of 2:00¹ for the mile and a quarter main track stakes.  He used a huge closing kick to take the victory, with Splash Mountain showing his usual stellar form, taking the place.  It was a neck back to Space Commander in third, with Tactical getting the minor reward, three-quarters of a length back in fourth.      

The gate was full for this one, and got away in good order with Tactical showing early speed, Having A Blast giving chase, in behind that duo was Space Commander on the rail, Mag Ol between horses and Spirited Stride on the outside of that grouping.  Another gap to Splash Mountain on the outside of So Profound on the rail, Funny Cide and Anoush Command between them, another gap to Champion In Action, then back to the trailing foursome of Z Command, Quick Response, Southern Speed and Crack Dab.

Moving around the clubhouse turn and nearing the backside with seven furlongs to run, Tactical and Having A Blast going at it on the front end, a gap of two back to Splash Mountain three wide, down to the rail for Space Commander and Spirited Stride between that pair.  Another length and a half to Anoush Command on the outside of Mag Ol skimming the rail.  Then another length and a half back to Funny Cide, So Profound towards his inside, Crack Dab out wide, then a gap to Champion In Action, Quick Response, Southern Speed and Z Command could see them all.

They made their way down the back stretch and into the far turn with three and a half furlongs left in this one, Having A Blast on the outside of Tactical and now sticking a head in front as Anoush Command moved up boldly.  A gap back to Splash Mountain in the middle of a group that included Space Commander on the rail, Spirited Stride between that duo, then out wider for Funny Cide and Crack Dab, with Champion In Action just in behind that group. Another gap back to Mag Ol saving ground, So Profound, then Z Command, Quick Response and Southern Speed was the back marker.

Swing around the far turn and to the top of the lane here at The Spa, we had a horse-race on our hands as Having A Blast and Tactical were still going at it on the front end, but were now feeling pressure from Splash Mountain on the outside, Space Commander on the outside, Anoush Command and Spirited Stride down the center of the track, Funny Cide from the extreme outside and So Profound just to his inside.  Then a gap back to Mag Ol on the inside of Champion In Action, another gap back to Crack Dab, Z Command, Quick Response and Southern Speed. 

Moving inside the final sixteenth and to the finish, in the blink of an eye, So Profound looked to be shot out of a cannon, split horses and flew past everyone to open of a length and a half advantage.  Splash Mountain down the center of the track was now in second while Space Command slipped up the rail.  The speed dual had done it’s damage to Tactical and Having A Blast and the rest were clamoring for what ever they could grab… but as they neared the wire, this was all about So Profound as he proved the best today, winning by two.  Splash Mountain continued on well from the outside to take the second spot by a neck over Space Commander from the rail.  Tactical hung on for the fourth spot, Spirited Stride fifth, then a head back to Having A Blast in sixth.  Funny Cide was seventh, Anoush Command eighth, Mag Ol ninth, Champion In Action tenth, Z Command eleventh, Quick Response twelfth, Crack Dab thirteenth and Southern Speed closed this one out.       

So Profound is a 5yo entire by Profound Connection – Preparations, by Applause, and he was bred by Mb Stables in ON.  Now owned by Asgar, he was purchased from the Dec 2018 Auction for $5.060, which has obviously proven to be a smart buy, as he now has eight wins from twenty starts, three of those coming this season, and he now has $2,930.540 in lifetime earnings.  That is three consecutive Grade I wins, quite an accomplishment, to say the least.  Congrats to the connections!  

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast           Time: :47²  1:11¹  1:35³  2:00¹
$1 Exacta: 4 – 13 Paid 135.20          $1 Trifecta: 4 – 13 – 1 Paid 750.10
Scratched: Kentucky Growl

So Profound rated well off of the pace, began to inch forward leaving the far turn, up to engage leaders at the furlong marker while racing down the center of the track, pulled away late as much the best.  Splash Mountain never far from the pace while racing wide throughout, fanned for the drive, second best.  Space Commander tracked the pace using an inside run, cut the corner forcing the issue, continued on well, evenly late.  Tactical broke alertly, set the pace to the far turn, headed, continued on gamely.  Spirited Stride just in behind the leaders, even effort, no excuse.  Having A Blast forced the pace to the far turn, up to take over through the turn, headed, nothing left.  Funny Cide raced evenly.  Anoush Command just behind the leaders, loomed at the top of the lane, tired.  Mag Ol early interest, flattened out.  Champion In Action was no threat.  Z Command outrun.  Quick Response outrun.  Crack Dab mid-pack early, tired.  Southern Speed was never involved. 

Categories: BC 2021-2023, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP