5/25/2020
2 SA The Gold Cup (GI)
$500.000 3yo&Up 1 1/4m Dirt 3yo 121lbs older 124lbs
The new of his demise WAS greatly exaggerated, as reported here… as people spoke ill of Tactical and his less than thrilling finish in the CT Classic, the Mb Stables trained 4yo give them the one-two and won The Gold Cup (GI) by a length and a half in a final time of 2:003 for the classic mile and a quarter distance. A Storm Has Arrived set the early paced and continued on well to take the second spot, a half length in front of Having A Blast in third.
The field of ten lined up on a beautiful SoCal evening and as the gates sprung open A Storm Has Arrived was away for the early lead, Having A Blast towards the inside of that one, Space Commander between horses. Unfold was skimming the rail, Tactical next to him, Air Show and Invercargill side by side, Bad Guys in behind that pair, Cherokee Twins along the rail and Achilles was the early trailer.
Now dashing around the clubhouse turn and onto the back stretch with five and a half furlongs to run, A Storm Has Arrived showing the way be a length and a half. Space Commander giving chase, Having A Blast just in behind that one, another length to Tactical caught three wide then Unfold between horses, Cherokee Twins on the inside of that trio. Another gap back to Air Show, Bad Days over to grab the rail, Invercargill three wide and Achilles trailed the field.
Down the backside and now headed into the far turn with three furlongs left to run, A Storm Has Arrived in front by a length as Tactical was now moving up four wide, Space Commander and Having A Blast between that pair, a gap back to Unfold three wide, Cherokee Twins to his inside, two more back to Air Show, Bad Days still saving ground, Invercargill three wide ad Achilles could still see them all.
Around the far turn and into the lane, the field flew past the furlong pole and Tactical used a sweep four-wide move to take command by a length and a half. A Storm Has Arrived on the rail in second, Having A Blast between horses with Space Commander on his flank, Unfold trying to rally down the center of the track, Bad Days cut the corner, Air Show between horses, Cherokee Twins three wide, Achilles and Invercargill.
Down to the final 150-yards to the finish, Tactical had things right where he wanted them and got home in front by a length and a half for the victory. A Storm Has Arrived took the second spot by a half length, then noses apart for Having A Blast in third, Unfold fourth and Space Commander in fifth. Achilles was sixth, Bad Days seventh, Air Show eighth, Cherokee Twins in ninth and Invercargill was tenth.
Tactical is a 4yo gray colt by Cherokee Sunset – Unnatural, by Natural Drummer, and he was bred by Team 7 Illusions in Cal. Claimed by Mb Stables for $75.000, this was his eighth win from fifteen starts, his third win this season and he now shows lifetime earnings of $3,004.010, and he looks like he is ready to have a big big season.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 3 – Tactical | 9.10 | 4.90 | 3.50 |
| 6 – A Storm Has Arrived | 7.40 | 4.90 | |
| 4 – Having A Blast | 8.90 |
Track: Fast Time: :472 1:111 1:352 2:003
$1 Exacta: 3 – 6 Paid 29.20 $1 Trifecta: 3 – 6 – 4 Paid 560.10
Scratched: None
Tactical away well, sat just in behind the pace, swung four wide on the far turn to engage the leader, pulled away down the lane, won driving. A Storm Has Arrived broke well, set the pace, headed at the top of the lane, continued on well while no threat to the winner. Having A Blast broker alertly, tracked the pace throughout, no late gate, hung on for the show. Unfold raced mid-pack, some late gain, no excuse. Space Commander away well, tracked the pace to the top of the lane, lost ground from there. Achilles rated well back to a trailing position, some late gain. Bad Days was never involved. Air Show was outrun. Cherokee Twins mid-pack to the top of the lane, tired. Invercargill was outrun.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
