Phipps Stable’s homebred PHILANTHROPIST (Kris S.), looking beaten in
midstretch, responded to Eibar Coa’s urging and rallied to gain a neck victory
over West Virginia (Tomorrows Cat) in Saturday’s $105,400
Queens County H. (G3)
at Aqueduct. The four-year-old Shug McGaughey trainee thus made his stakes debut
a winning one, completing the 1 3/16-mile test in 1:56 4/5 on the inner dirt
labeled as good.
Philanthropist broke alertly and found it easy work to secure the rail along
with an unpressured lead through an opening quarter in :24 and a half-mile in
:48 4/5. But jockeys Michael Luzzi aboard 9-5 favorite Trapped Again (Deputy
Commander) and Norberto Arroyo Jr. atop West Virginia were alive to Coa’s shrewd
slowing of the tempo, and they drove up to Philanthropist’s flank through six
furlongs in 1:13 1/5. We Can Seek (Chi) (Seeker’s Reward) was content to track
the pace in fourth. Evening Attire (Black Tie Affair [Ire]), who had walked out
of the gate and spotted the field five lengths right off the bat, cruised into
contention on the outside and appeared eager to deliver his challenge as the
field entered the far turn.
Turning into the stretch, Philanthropist drifted away from the rail, leaving
an inviting opening for We Can Seek, who promptly slipped through on the inside
and made a short-lived bid for the lead. West Virginia was surging on the
outside, and in midstretch, looked the certain winner, with Philanthropist
retreating and We Can Seek stalling. But under Coa’s handling, Philanthropist
came alive once more, producing an impressive late kick to collar West Virginia
and post a narrow but decisive score. Two lengths behind the top pair came We
Can Seek, salvaging third by a neck over Evening Attire, who flattened out in
the stretch. Trapped Again rounded out the field, with Summer Book (Notebook) a
scratch.
As the fourth choice in a five-horse field at nearly 6-1, Philanthropist gave
his supporters $13.20, $6.80, and $5.10 while sparking a $47.20 exacta. West
Virginia, the near 3-1 third choice, returned $4.20 and $3.50. We Can Seek,
the longest shot on the board at odds of nearly 8-1, paid $4.70 and completed
the trifecta (3-6-2) worth $212.50.
Bred in Kentucky by Ogden Mills Phipps, Philanthropist is the second graded
stakes winner produced by his dam, Hidden Reserve (Mr. Prospector), who already
had 2004 Laurel Futurity (G3) winner Defer (Danzig) to her credit. Hidden
Reserve was a multiple graded stakes performer herself, garnering places in the
Shuvee H. (G2), Demoiselle S. (G2) and Bed O’ Roses Breeders’ Cup H. (G3). She
has a yearling named Deliberately and a weanling, both colts by A. P. Indy.
Philanthropist hails from one of the Phippses’ stellar families. Hidden
Reserve is a full sister to multiple Grade 1 victress and $1.1 million-earner
Educated Risk, whose daughter Strategy (A. P. Indy) just took the honors in the
November 27 Real Prize S. at Aqueduct. Hidden Reserve’s half-sister, Inside
Information (Private Account), was the champion older mare in 1995, racking up
six Grade 1 triumphs (including the Breeders’ Cup Distaff) and more than $1.6
million in purses. Inside Information has maintained the family tradition, as
she is the dam of 2005 Coaching Club American Oaks S. (G1) and Mother Goose S.
(G1) heroine Smuggler (Unbridled). This clan traces to the profoundly
influential mare Grey Flight (*Mahmoud).
With the Queens County on his resume, Philanthropist now has a record of six
wins and five placings in 14 lifetime starts along with a bankroll of $260,590.