Gutsy Declassify prevails in G1 Triple Bend
RSS Feeds Monday, June 30, 2014
Seemingly beaten with a furlong to go, Declassify battled back along the rail for a well-deserved win in the $300,000 Triple Bend S. (G1) Saturday at Santa Anita Park, becoming Eddie Woods' latest Grade 1 winning sales grad.

Owned by Kaleem Shah, Declassify was purchased by Hill 'n' Dale Bloodstock for $450,000 from Woods' consignment at the 2012 Ocala Breeders' Sales April 2-year-olds in training sale. Declassify, by Orientate out of Mir Cat, comes from the same family as champion Pleasant Stage, as well as Grade 1 winners A Phenomenon and Seattle Meteor.

The Triple Bend wound up being a back and forth battle between Declassify and Cyclometer. That pair went head-to-head the entire trip, with Declassify along the inside. Declassify had a narrow lead at the top of the lane, but Cyclometer came on to go up a half-length with a furlong to go. With Martin Garcia urging his mount on in deep stretch, Declassify dug in once again to outgame his foe on the wire, winning by a nose in 1:22.03.

“I thought I was beat at the top of the stretch, “said Garcia. “My horse was trying everything, every step of the way. He never gave up. (Cyclometer) moved into me a little bit in the stretch and my horse was intimidated. He responded again though. He’s such a good horse.”

Winning trainer Bob Baffert praised the 4-year-old's effort as well. "We've been very high on this horse from day one, but  we've had to bring him along slowly. I really like the way he dug in today."

The victory, worth $180,000 improved Declassify's earnings to $261,240. The Triple Bend marked Declassify's first stakes start, though he has shown that talent in nearly all of his previous races, earning triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in three of his first four outings.
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