Red Route One Tops West Virginia Derby; Brightwork Wins Adirondack Stakes

Red Route One Tops West Virginia Derby: Red Route One and Brightwork pulled off big victories in different races to lead the winners on Sunday in various racetracks in the United States. Red Route One came from behind to finish first in the West Virginia Derby while Brightwork surged to an emphatic triumph at the Adirondack Stakes. The races capped an eventful weekend as the industry and online horseracing betting sites begin the three-month countdown for the prestigious Breeders’ Cup.

Red Route One Secures First Graded Stakes Win

Red Route One came from behind to win the West Virginia Derby on Sunday at the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort. The three-year-old Gun Runner colt emerged from fifth place with an eighth of a mile remaining and came home first at the tape to take home the Grade 3, US$500,000 stakes race. It was Red Route One’s first graded stakes victory in 12 starts and handed trainer Steve Asmussen his sixth win in the 1 1/8-mile (1.810-kilometer) race. Winchell Thoroughbreds also emerged as the big winner as it was the third West Virginia Derby victory for the stable – all of them with Asmussen as trainer.

Red Route One rode along with the pace upon flag off as One in Vermillion zoomed to first and led in the upper half of the race. West Coast Cowboy made his move heading to the far turn and engaged to a showdown with One in Vermillion approaching the final stretch. However, the one-on-one clash left a big chance for Red Route One to make an impossible comeback as the Cristian Torres-ridden horse emerged from the pack and overtook West Coast Cowboy and One in Vermillion en route to a three-length win at the finish. 

West Coast Cowboy came in second while One in Vermillion finished third. It was the third win for Red Route One in 12 starts and the victory increased the horse’s earnings to US$1.045 million. He also bounced back from a disappointing eighth-place finish at the Belmont Stakes. Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort officials rescheduled the West Virginia Derby to Sunday from Saturday and worked wonders. The event earned US$2.53 million in nine races. It was up 12% from US$2.26 million last year. It was the highest earnings since 2015, according to official data.

Red Route One Tops West Virginia Derby: Brightwork Captures Adirondack for Third Straight Win

Brightwork remained unbeaten in three races as he topped the Grade 3 Adirondack Stakes on Sunday at the Saratoga Race Course. The daughter of Outwork rallied from off the pace to score a convincing triumph in the US$200,000 juvenile fillies race. The John Ortiz-trained horse won over seven other horses in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint at one minute and 16.85 seconds. Brightwork won by five lengths over Here U Come Again. Streaming Now finished third while Magic Cross, Princess Indy, Princesa Celina, Becky’s Joker and Copper Em completed the order. Cara’s Time and Saratoga Secret were scratched in the race. The win at Saratoga adds to Brightwork’s victories at a 4 1/2-furlong race at Keeneland in April and in six-furlong Debutante Stakes on July in Ellis Park. The Adirondack was the first stakes race victory at Saratoga for trainer John Ortiz.

Starting at post 3, Brightwork settled in the mid-pack with Here U Come Again pacing the opening quarter-mile with Streaming Now a half-length behind. Brightwork battled for third with Copper Em and Magic Cross down the backstretch through a half-mile. She drifted wide at the turn and aimed on the leaders Here U Come Again and Magic Cross down the stretch. The two-year-old filly swept past her rivals with ease at the eighth pole and held on for a victory. Brightwork took home US$110,000 for the win.

White Abarrio Gains Breeders’ Cup Classic Ticket with Whitney Stakes Victory

White Abarrio topped the Grade 1, US$1-million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday and secured a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 4 at Santa Anita. The four-year-old colt out of Race Day sped past kept pace with Giant Game at the start of the race. White Abarrio took command through the final turn and led by five lengths at the homestretch en route to a 6 1/4-length victory. Zandon came in second while pre-race favorite Cody’s Wish finished third. Rick Dutrow Jr. trained White Abarrio and Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the horse to victory. Charge It finished fourth while Giant Game and Last Samurai came in fifth and sixth, respectively.

White Abarrio’s win helped him bounce back from a third-place result at the Grade 1 Metropolitan Stakes. More importantly, the victory allowed the colt to earn a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup. Earning a slot early gives White Abarrio several months to prepare and will be an early favorite by sports oddsmakers in the prestigious horseracing event.