Structor Stays Unbeaten in Juvenile Turf

ARCADIA, CA – Structor soared to victory in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1) at Santa Anita Park. This was the third consecutive win for the undefeated two-year-old son of Palace Malice who won last time out in the G3 Pilgrim at Keeneland.

Structor broke from the second position at odds of 5-1 shot to the front, and and eased back to mid-pack along the rail behind the early pace setter Graceful Kitten. Graceful Kitten set fraction of :23.14, :47.55, and 1:11.68. Proven Strategies sat just off the leaders while the 2-1 post-time favorite Arizona got stuck back behind horses and was force to make a fruitless late run and eventually finished fifth.

Into the stretch, Graceful Kitten maintained a slight lead over Proven Strategies but the pair quickly faced pressure from the rear.  Structor, shot down the stretch with an impressive late burst of speed with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard to win by an easy ¾-length victory over Billy Batts who came on late a neck ahead of Gear Jockey in a photo for third. Decorated Invader finished fourth. 

Deviant was unable to draw in from the Also-Eligibles list and Vitalogy was a late scratch. Following the completion of the race, the Stewards posted an inquiry into the run of Hit the Road who was subsequently DQ’d from 7th to last. 

“He broke alertly and I was able to save ground all the way around,” said jockey Jose Ortiz. “I wanted to ask him to run sooner, but I had nowhere to go at the 3/8-pole. Once we got into the clear, he really finished strong. He’s a very nice horse. 

The Chad Brown trainee, Structor, was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimney Farms and is owned by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel. Despite being a perfect three-for-three on the turf, Structor’s next start could be on the Dirt next time out according to Brown. 

“I’m going to try this horse on dirt at some point,” said Brown. He trains very well on it. He deserves it and he’s got the right running style to potentially run on both surfaces.”

“I can’t wait to see Chad [Brown] try him on the dirt,” said owner Jeff Drown.

Structor returned $12.60 to win, $7.20 to place, and $5.20 to show. Billy Batts brought back $33.40 to place and $18.20 to show, while Gear Jockey paid $20.20 to show.