Never Explain Clocks New Track Record In Upset Dinner Party Stakes Score
Never Explain and jockey Flavien Prat set a new track record in the G3 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
At the end of a grueling stretch duel with several potential victors, Never Explain gained a half-length advantage and set a new Pimlico Race Course track record on Saturday with an upset victory in the Grade 3 Dinner Party Stakes.
The 5-year-old son of Street Sense was placed in the middle of the pack a couple paths off the rail by jockey Flavien Prat, while Atone and Emmanuel battled for the early lead through an opening quarter in :23.85 seconds. Atone, who broke from the rail, held onto that position through the first turn, and emerged from the backstretch with a one-length advantage over Emmanuel.
Those two rivals continued to put distance on third-place Rising Empire through a half-mile in :47.40, and the order did little changing across the backstretch, and after three-quarters in 1:11.23.
Atone continued to benefit from the rail trip, and it appeared as if he was beginning to dispose of Emmanuel as they hit the top of the stretch, but that rival began coming back to the leader in the stretch, and he was joined by Speaking Scout, Never Explain, and post time favorite Hurricane Dream on the far outside.
Prat, who had settled on the rail behind the two leaders through the final turn, had swung three paths wide in the stretch, and under right-handed urging, Never Explain emerged at the front of the five-horse battle at the wire to win by a half-length. Hurricane Dream was second on the outside, while Emmanuel held on for third.
Never Explain stopped the clock in the 1 1/8 race in 1:46.14 over a firm turf course, bettering the previous record of 1:46.34 set by the Irish-born Mr. O'Brien in the 2004 Dixie Stakes, which was later renamed to the Dinner Party.
The colt paid $32.40 to win as the longest shot on the board in his stakes debut for owner Courtlandt Farm and trainer Shug McGaughey. It was his third straight victory after taking a pair of optional claiming races on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs in January and March.
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Saturday's victory improved Never Explain's lifetime record to five wins in 15 starts for earnings of $242,062.
Never Explain was bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm and Godolphin, out of the stakes-placed Forestry mare Black Oak. He sold to Courtlandt Farm for $475,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, consigned by Woods Edge Farm. Before that, he sold as a weanling for $155,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, from the Hidden Brook Farm consignment.
$200,000 Dinner Party (G3) Quotes from Maryland Jockey Club notes team
Winning Trainer Shug McGaughey (Never Explain): “I think it was great ride with Flavien (Prat). He saved ground. He got him to relax. He had horse when it came time. When he asked him, he was there. Whether he was going to get there or not, I don’t know, but I knew he was running.”
(Third-straight win with blinkers off) “Even without the blinkers he wants to pull a little bit. That was one of the good things about today. He got him to relax really well, where he had horse at the finish.”
Winning Jockey Flavien Prat (Never Explain): “It looked like the pace was honest, and I tucked myself in. I tipped him out turning for home, and he really dug in and was game today. On the form, it felt like anybody could win. Turning for home, I thought I had a chance. But I felt I wasn’t the only one. It seemed like the horse coming outside of me helped me and pushed my horse. So yeah, it was great. He was really game today.”
Trainer Graham Motion (Hurricane Dream, 2nd , Speaking Scout, 4th, Easter, 6th): “A little tough, but he ran well. I was very pleased with Hurricane Dream. Speaking Scout was unlucky. He said if he could have gotten through, he just didn't have anywhere to go. The other horse (Easter) was a little disappointing. He always breaks a little slow, which hurts him. The two of them (Hurricane Dream and Speaking Scout) certainly ran very well."
Jockey Joel Rosario (Hurricane Dream, 2nd): “We broke fine. I just took my time with him, and he relaxed nicely for me. The winner was a little bit in front of me. My horse ran his race and had a great run to the finish. I felt for a second he might get there, but the winner just kept moving. The turf may be a little speed favoring today. Overall, that was a terrific horse race.”
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Emmanuel, 3rd): “We had a beautiful trip. Broke good, sat second where I bided my time. Then he tried all the way to the wire. It was a great race, and he ran very well.”
