With Russian President Vladimir Putin and other dignitaries from the Gas Exporting Countries’ Forum in attendance July 1, American-bred horses ran first and second in the President's Cup at the Central Moscow Hippodrome.
Baletmeister and Mori's Arch, respectively, were the first two finishers in the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2 miles) Russian group I event, which carried a purse of 10 million rubles or $302,580.
Both were graduates of Keeneland's September yearling sale. Baletmeister, a 6-year-old horse by Pulpit out of Cullberg Ballet (IRE), was purchased for $55,000 by Dexco Ltd. at the 2008 September sale. He was consigned by Lane's End, agent. Mori's Arch, a 4-year-old colt by Arch out of Sarie Marais, was consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent, to the 2010 September sale, where he was purchased for $75,000 by German International BA.
Baletmeister is a half brother to Baletti, a 9-year-old gelding by Gulch who won the 2010 Fort Marcy Stakes (gr. IIIT) and placed in three other graded stakes while earning $392,642 in a 38-race career through 2012.
Keeneland sales graduates also won two other Thoroughbred stakes on the President's Cup Day program.
"It was gratifying for me and Will Mayer, from our sales staff, to be in attendance on a day in which Keeneland was so well represented," said W.B. Rogers Beasley, vice president of racing, in a July 10 press release. "We are very proud of our sales graduates, and happy for the success of their connections."