Race Recaps Battleground Champions Chesham June 18, 2020 Credit: Ascot Racecourse Race Recaps Battleground Champions Chesham June 18, 2020 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND – Coolmore’s Battleground made headway once an opening appeared and fought his way to the front to champion Thursday’s Chesham Stakes on Day 3 of the 2020 Royal Ascot Meet. ( Content Continues Below Ad ) Sent away as the 8/5 stateside favorite under Ryan Moore, Battleground raced midfield within the tightly-knit group of 2-year-olds. March Law dueled for the lead with his Mark Johnston stablemate Golden Flame, racing heads apart until nearing the halfway point, when March Law moved up to take sole command. Battleground remained covered up behind rivals until he crossed the 2-furlong marker, which is when an opening appeared in front of him. Sent through it toward the front, Battleground fought hard to close over the soft going and took control with a 1/2-furlong remaining. Asserting his strength in the final stages, the Aidan O’Brien trainee crossed 2 1/2 lengths clear while completing the 7-furlong sprint in a final time of 1:30.62. “We are delighted to win today,” O’Brien said. “It was a big ask for our 2-year-olds, as most of them only ran last week. We needed to get a run into him, otherwise it was going to be difficult to get into the race, as they would have been fourth or fifth preference. We were lucky in this race that it was not a full field.” March Law held second by 1 3/4 lengths over Seattle Rock, who was closing well late until he suddenly veered sharply toward the outer rail. Golden Flame, Modern News, Bright Devil, Clarendon Cross, and First Prophet completed the order of finish. Concessions was a non-runner. His sire, War Front, is one of the world's top stallions His dam, Found, is an Arc winner and a Breeders' Cup winnerBattleground was bred to be special – and he looked just that in the Chesham Stakes 🤩#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/jUeSRKoBe9— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 18, 2020 Battleground’s win broke his maiden status in his second start, as the War Front colt had finished fifth in his debut while going 6 furlongs at Naas. He is the first foal out of the 2016 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Found, who won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and finished second in the 2016 edition. “We are hoping that he could progress into a very good miler,” O’Brien said. “Found was an unbelievable, magic mare. She was one of the very special ones and everyone remembers her. Obviously, this is her first foal and everyone wants to do well. Battleground is an unbelievable specimen, really.” Battleground brought back $5.40 to win and $3 to place, March Law brought back $8.80 to place, and Seattle Rock paid $17.40 to place.
College Football Week 11 and NFL Week 10 Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 214 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Official Breeders’ Cup 2024 Picks | Blinkers Off 692 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for the 41st… Read More
Jon White Breeders’ Cup 2024 Interview and Picks | Blinkers Off 691 The Racing Dudes interview Jon White, former Santa Anita, Del… Read More
Breeders’ Cup Classic and Football Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 213 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Breeders’ Cup 2024 Pre-Entries Analysis | Blinkers Off 690 The Racing Dudes dive into the 2024 Breeders’ Cup pre-entries… Read More
Breeders’ Cup 2024 Top 5 Performances Aaron gives his Top 5 Breeders’ Cup performances from the… Read More
Who is the 2024 3-Year-Old Male of the Year? Aaron gives his thoughts on who should be the 2024… Read More
College Football Week 11 and NFL Week 10 Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 214 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More