Forego S. (gr. I)
(gr. I , 7f ,)
PYRO
(DK B/ h,
124
lb) $180,000
Pulpit —Wild Vision , by
Wild Again
B—Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC,
KY.;
O—Godolphin Racing LLC;
T—Saeed bin Suroor
Kodiak Kowboy
(B h,
124
lb) $60,000
Posse —Kokadrie , by
Coronado's Quest
B—Hartwell Farm,
KY.;
O—Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm;
T—J. Larry Jones
Ready's Echo
(DK B/ h,
124
lb) $30,000
More Than Ready —Menekineko , by
Kingmambo
B—Michael J. Buckley,
KY.;
O—Let's Go Stable;
T—Todd A. Pletcher
Margins: ½, ½, ½. Others: My Pal Charlie 124($15,000) , Riley Tucker 124($9,000) , True Quality 124($858) , Keep Laughing 124($858) , Driven by Success 124($858) , Gold Trippi 124($858) , Peace Chant 124($858) , Multidude 124($858) , Law Enforcement 124($852) . Winning Jockey, John R. Velazquez.
Godolphin StableÕs Pyro, making his first start in a grade I since having knee surgery, is back in top form after winning the $300,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Sept. 5.
Pyro, a 4-year-old son of Pulpit, put the finishing touches on a terrific Saratoga meet for Godolphin, which sent out four grade I winners.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Pyro, who broke a tad slow, came from the back of the pack to win the seven-furlong Forego by a half-length over favorite Kodiak Kowboy. At the quarter pole, Pyro was behind a wall of horses, and it looked as if it was anybodyÕs race. Velazquez guided the colt to the outside in upper stretch, found an opening between horses, and finished full of run.
ÒIt was awesome,Ó Velazquez said of his ride aboard the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Pyro. ÒI was biding my time with him, just waiting for a seam to open, and when it did, he was there for me.Ó
Bred in Kentucky, Pyro initially raced for his breeder, Winchell Thoroughbreds, and trainer Steve Asmussen. Darley Stable privately purchased Pyro last fall before he ran sixth in the BreedersÕ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I). He did, however, run under the names of his original connections in that race.
It was originally thought Pyro, who had won the Risen Star (gr. III), Louisiana Derby (gr. II), and Northern Dancer (gr. III) earlier in 2008, would go to stud in 2009, but there was a change of plans and Darley moved him to Godolphin Stable.
Pyro underwent knee surgery soon after his purchase and didnÕt return to the races until July 29 when he finished second in the James Marvin Stakes at Saratoga.
ÒI didnÕt know if the (half-mile in 45.24) was fast enough, but they thinned out and Johnny gave him a perfect trip,Ó said Rick Mettee, GodolphinÕs North American racing manager and assistant to Suroor.
Pyro is the second foal out of the Wild Again mare Wild Vision, who also produced grade III winner War Echo, a daughter of Tapit (by Pulpit). A full brother to Pyro was born in March.
Pulpit is the sire of 42 stakes winners and has six additional 2009 added-money winners including Meteore (gr. IIT), Rutherienne (gr. IIT), Parading (gr. IIT), and Mi Sueno, winner of the Sept. 5 Darley Debutante (gr. I) at Del Mar. Pulpit stands at the Hancock familyÕs Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky.ÑK.M.J.
