Beach Patrol Wins Stretch Battle Over Long Island Sound in G1 Secretariat

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (August 13, 2016) – Separated by less than a length in last month’s Grade I Belmont Derby, Beach Patrol proved narrowly best over Long Island Sound after a long stretch battle in their rematch in Saturday’s Grade I $450,000 Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds at Arlington International Racecourse.

James Covello, Sheep Pond Partners and Head of Plains Partners’ Beach Patrol settled just off of early splits of 24.59, 48.31 and 1:12.76 set by longshot Scissors and Tape before moving as a team with Long Island Sound past that early leader nearing the top of the stretch. The pair then battled every step through the lane with Beach Patrol maintaining a small advantage throughout before crossing the wire a head in front after 1¼ miles on the turf in a final time of 2:01.95.

Ridden by Florent Geroux for trainer Chad Brown, Beach Patrol earned his first graded stakes victory in the Secretariat and his third win from seven starts overall. The son of Lemon Drop Kid earned $261,900 for the win and increased his career bankroll to $526,970.

“Broke good there from the gate, I was able to stalk and when I asked him to go he was very brave,” Geroux said. “[Long Island Sound] didn’t give it up, and [Beach Patrol] showed a lot of heart.”

“Florent rode a beautiful race from a difficult post,” Brown added. “The horse has been training really well. I want to thank Sol Kumin and James Covello, the other partners that put up the money to buy him – their patience. His first start didn’t go so well; they didn’t worry about it. They were in it for the long term and it paid off today.”

Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Joseph Allen’s Long Island Sound narrowly missed posting his first stakes score, pressing the early leader under Seamie Heffernan before briefly attaining the lead nearing the quarter-pole. The son of War Front’s head defeat denied trainer Aidan O’Brien a third consecutive and fifth overall win in the Secretariat.

“It was an improvement on his last run,” Heffernan said. “Very happy with him, and he’s an improving horse.”

WinStar Farm’s Todd Pletcher-trained American Patriot made a sharp move up the backstretch to improve position and stayed on strongly, narrowing the margin on the top pair in the stretch before crossing the wire another three-quarters of a length back in third under William Buick.

“He ran a good race,” Buick said of the War Front colt. “He was a bit slow from the gates early. We ended up getting a good run up the inside; he stayed on very strong towards the finish. He’s a nice horse. If we would have had a clear trip the whole way, maybe we would have won.”

Beach Patrol paid $7.60, $3.80 and $3 as the slight favorite, with Long Island Sound returning $4.40 and $3. American Patriot paid $3.

One Mean Man, Oscar Nominated, Cordon, Surgical Strike, Cherry Wine and Scissors and Tape completed the running order.

GRADE I SECRETARIAT STAKES QUOTES

Florent Geroux (jockey, Beach Patrol, winner): “Broke good there from the gate, I was able to stalk and when I asked him to go he was very brave. [Long Island Sound] didn’t give it up, and [Beach Patrol] showed a lot of heart”

Chad Brown (trainer, Beach Patrol, winner): “Florent rode a beautiful race from a difficult post. The horse has been training really well. I want to thank Sol Kumin and James Covello, the other partners that put up the money to buy him – their patience. His first start didn’t go so well, they didn’t worry about it, they were in it for the long term and it paid off today.”

Seamie Heffernan (jockey, Long Island Sound, second): “It was an improvement on his last run. Very happy with him, and he’s an improving horse.”

William Buick (jockey, American Patriot, third): “He ran a good race. He was a bit slow from the gates early. We ended up getting a good run up the inside; he stayed on very strong towards the finish. He’s a nice horse. If we would have had a clear trip the whole way, maybe we would have won.”

Robby Albarado (jockey, One Mean Man, fourth): “I had a good trip. I had to be a little conservative because it was questionable how far he wanted to go today and the distance may have been a factor. He ran great. A couple of nice horses beat him.”

Corey Lanerie (jockey, Oscar Nominated, fifth): “It was a good trip. The inside horse bounced out a bit and knocked me over heels, but he missed maybe one stride and then got back running with me. It’s a shame, it might have cost us third or fourth.”

Carlos Marquez, Jr. (jockey, Cordon, sixth): “He broke in the air a little bit and then I saved all the ground I could and then there was a wall of horses in front of me. I had to wait for some room and he got a little discouraged. He’s a nice horse, and they’re going to make a lot of money with him.”

Flavien Prat (jockey, Surgical Strike, seventh): “Good trip, I think it was just too far.”

Arlington International Racecourse