Godolphin Racing’s ASHKAL WAY (Ire) (Ashkalani) uncorked a ferocious late
kick to grab the spoils as the 3-5 favorite in the $200,000
Bernard Baruch H. (G2) at Saratoga on Saturday. With Garrett Gomez aboard,
the Saeed bin Suroor charge completed 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf in a sharp
1:46 3/5 to earn his first graded stakes victory.
In the early stages, Ashkal Way appeared rank as Gomez wrangled him back to
rate in sixth. Up front, T. D. Vance (Rahy) had shot to the lead, pressed by the
winner’s entrymate, Etesaal (Danzig), through moderate fractions of :24 2/5, :48
1/5 and 1:11 3/5. Finally disposing of Etesaal, T. D. Vance shook clear at the
top of the stretch, reeling off a mile in 1:35 1/5, but the proverbial
handwriting was on the wall as he began to tread water while the closers just
began to find their stride. The first to threaten was Dreadnaught (Lac Ouimet),
who erupted from his stalking position, but going best of all on the far outside
was Ashkal Way. As Dreadnaught stretched out and gave his all, Ashkal Way found
an extra gear to overhaul that rival by a neck in the final yards.
“Once (Ashkal Way) gets behind horses, he settles better,” Godolphin’s
assistant trainer Rick Mettee said. “Once Garrett got him covered up on the
rail, I was confident that he would run his race. Garrett said he wanted to run
farther along.”
Interpatation (Langfuhr) rallied from last along the inside for third, three-quarters of
a length adrift of the runner-up. Next came T. D. Vance, Leadwithyourchin (Dynaformer),
Etesaal, Quest Star (Broad Brush) and Terrific Storm (Storm Cat). Badge of
Silver (Silver Deputy) and Fishy Advice (Woodman) were withdrawn.
The winner furnished mutuels of $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 while keying the
$13.20 exacta and $104.50 trifecta (1-2-6). Dreadnaught paid $4.60 and $3.30 as
the 6-1 fourth choice, and Interpatation, dismissed as the longest shot on the
board at 25-1, rewarded his believers with $5.50 to show.
Ashkal Way now boasts a mark of 14-6-3-2 with $363,349 in his account. The
chestnut gelding began his career in England, and after finishing fifth in his
lone start as a juvenile for horseman Ed Dunlop, he was sold to trainer Brian
Ellison for 20,000 guineas at the 2004 Doncaster Horses in Training Sale.
Although he never tackled stakes company as a three-year-old, Ashkal Way did
stamp himself as an improving type when scoring in the Totescoop 6, a Heritage
Handicap at Beverley, last August. Indeed, he caught the attention of the
Maktoum family and was privately acquired in the autumn of 2005.
He raced once in the colors of Sheikh Hamdan at Nad al Sheba in February,
closing for third in a handicap at Nad al Sheba, then was transferred to the
Godolphin umbrella and shipped to the United States. Ashkal Way won his first
three races stateside, including a course record-setting score in the Elkwood S.
at Monmouth Park, before rallying for a commendable second in the Fourstardave
H. (G2) in his first graded stakes attempt prior to this one.
The first registered foal from the winning Cadeaux Genereux mare Golden Way,
Ashkal Way hails from the family of multiple stakes winner Polish Spring (Ire)
(Polish Precedent) and French stakes victor and Group 3-placed Go Boldly
(Sadler’s Wells). Descending from Goofed (*Court Martial), the dam of renowned
sire Lyphard, this female line has also produced such stars as last year’s
Travers S. (G1) hero Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) and recent track
record-setting Washington Park H. (G2) winner Suave (A.P. Indy).