Divisidero Blows Past Field to Win American Turf Presented by Ram Trucks

May 02, 2015

Gunpowder Farms’ Divisidero rocketed past the bulk of the field in the stretch to win the 24th running of the $250,000 American Turf (GII) Presented by Ram Trucks for 3-year-olds by three-quarters of a length over A Lot.

Trained by Buff Bradley and ridden by Rafael Hernandez, Divisidero covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:41.59.

Tuba led the field of 13 through fractions of :24.03 and :48.69 while Divisidero raced near the back of the pack with only two horses beaten approaching the far turn. At the three-eighths pole, Hernandez angled Divisidero to the outside and turning for home came widest of all to begin his charge.

A Lot had taken over in upper stretch but could not hold off Divisidero in the final sixteenth of a mile.

The victory was worth $141,050 and increased Divisidero’s earnings to $179,450 with a record of 3-2-0-1.Divisidero is a Kentucky-bred son of Kitten’s Joy out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Madame Du Lac.

Divisidero returned $19.20, $9.20 and $6.80. A Lot, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $5.80 and $4.80. World Approval finished 1 ¾ lengths back in third under Julien Leparoux and returned $7.60 to show.

It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to Luck of the Kitten, who was followed in order by Royal Son, Nun the Less, Firespike, Another Lemon Drop, Tuba, Indianaughty, Conquest Typhoon, Wireless Future and Majestico.

AMERICAN TURF PRESENTED BY RAM TRUCKS QUOTES

RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, jockey of DIVISIDERO (winner)

“We broke good. The race set up perfect for us and the first turn I lost a little ground because I was pushed me a little bit out so my horse stayed there he never took himself back or anything. At the three-eighths I started asking, he started picking up and just saving more ground. Turning for home we got him to the lead and he [Divisidero] did the rest.'

BUFF BRADLEY, trainer of DIVISIDERO (winner)

“We worried a little bit yesterday because it looked like the turf course favored speed, but I told Rafael (Hernandez), ‘Don’t take him out of his game and let him run his race.’ He’s an awesome horse. He professional already and it’s just his third race. It’s unbelievable. The owners have been great, the Gunpowder Stables. We’ve come up with a plan to give this horse plenty of time, and that’s what’s helped us.” (Next?) “We’ve got some ideas, but I’m not sure we’ve firmed everything up yet.”

JOHN VELAZQUEZ, jockey of A LOT (second)

'The other horse passed him; he didn't even know the other horse passed him. He just kept looking at the infield. … He didn't pay attention. He kept looking at the infield. He didn't care. After the horse passed him – he was like two lengths in front of him – he started galloping out.'

BILL MOTT, trainer of A LOT (second)

“He (John Velazquez) thought that maybe he was waiting on other horses a little bit. He thought that when he made the lead that he was waiting on somebody and then that horse just blew by him. He ran pretty well, he didn’t win but not bad.”

JULIEN LEPAROUX, jockey of WORLD APPROVAL (third)

“He ran huge. From the 14 hole, I just wanted to be patient and save ground around the first turn. I was right behind the winner at the quarter-pole, but he just outkicked us. He ran a big race and finished very strong.”

MARK CASSE, trainer of WORLD APPROVAL (third) and Conquest Typhoon (11th)

“Conquest Typhoon was just disappointing. He seemed a little flat and was carried out in both turns. The other horse (World Approval) ran good. The more he learns each race, the better he will get. And the further he runs, he will like that too.”