It was a long way for Tom is d’etat. As the striking son of Smart Strike from Kentucky, the striking bay was looking for a black-type victory in the first three years of his career.
Now, at the age of 7, Tom’s d’Etat is on the winning streak of his life. With a dominant 4 1/4 score in the $ 500,000 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at around June 27th Churchill DownsThe hard-fought runner stamped his ticket for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) with his fourth win in a row.
“You can’t explain it because it’s not supposed to happen in this business,” said coach Al Stall Jr .. “He obviously had some breaks on the track for various reasons, such as excruciating injuries, and maybe that helped his longevity . “
Toms d’Etat takes his step towards victory
Tom’s d’Etat, facing a field of seven others in the 1 1/8 mile Stephen Foster, broke abruptly from post 5 and was led forward by Jockey Miguel Mena. Tom’s d’Etat, who had settled directly on the railing, came back second Pirate strike showed early speed to take the lead and click fractions of: 23.89 and: 48.13 for half the mile.
By my standards and Alkhaatam pressed the pace outside the railing on the back and dueled for third place. Toms d’Etat managed to bend his nose in front of him Pirate strike at the three-eighth pole and headed when six furlongs were clocked at 1: 11.67. Mena led his mount even further out of the curve, and the pair had control over the track for two lengths.
By my standards made his own offer to take the lead at the three-eighth pole, but was not a match for Toms d’Etat, who retreated in the middle of the course and extended his lead to the wire and in a fast lane with 1: 47.30 ended. Silver dust was third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up by my standards.
multiplier, The original, Fearless, Pirate’s Punch and Alkhaatam completed the order of completion.
“I knew it was a lot of fun to ride him in the morning, but I didn’t know how much fun he was having in the afternoon,” said Mena, who had the opportunity to ride Toms d’Etat when the regular jockey Joel Rosario decided to ride champion University in the $ 250,000 Just a Game (G1) at Belmont Park. “I owe everything to Al for giving me the opportunity to ride such an impressive horse. He went so lightly and I just asked him a little up on the street for his attention, and I didn’t even have to really accelerate. “
Tom’s d’Etat was launched by GMB Racing and opened the year with a three-quarter score at the Oaklawn Mile Stakes on April 11th in Oaklawn Park. He finished in 2019 with two of his best wins, the Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) Keeneland and the Clark Stakes presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) in Churchill.
“I think the most important thing is that he had a chance to get in shape by being in firm training for about 18 months and running a series of races,” said Stall. “He enjoyed refreshing himself at the fair this winter and he couldn’t have done better. Oaklawn couldn’t have been better, so I think we’re in good shape for the rest of this year. He’s in pretty good shape and this race is only the second race back.
“He is a great athlete. If he has to be around he stops running and if the pace is fast he can withdraw and listen to the rider. He is a smart horse, he is an athletic horse and he is is what a class 1 horse should be. ”
Tom’s d’Etat was bred by SF Bloodstock and comes from the mare Julia Tuttle from Giant’s Causeway, a foal by Nyquist Colt in 2020. Tom’s d’Etat was offered for the Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2014 and purchased by GMB Racing for $ 330,000 from Hunter Valley Farm. He holds an 11-2-1 record of 18 starts with a profit of $ 1,627,272.
Stall said he hoped that if Toms d’Etat continued to improve, offers would follow to stand the horse in the stud.
“If I have to leave him in my back yard, he’ll be a stallion somewhere,” said Stall. “We get a few small bites here and there, but races like this and with us in the future we will probably hear more. We will only focus on the horse and the year ahead and leave the GMB crew who were incredibly patient and have spent a lot of time and money with this horse to rehabilitate it will be paid. They’re good businessmen and they’ll know what to do when the time comes. ”
Video: Stephen Foster S. (G2)
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