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Oversubscribed signs up for first stakes win in $150K Wild Applause

by Christian Abdo

Klaravich Stables’ British-bred Oversubscribed came from well out of it to collar the pacesetting Macanga and earn her first stakes win in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Wild Applause, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

In victory, four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Chad Brown, who also saddled Chantilly Road, notched a record-extending fifth Wild Applause win including the past two runnings with Liguria [2023] and Eminent Victor [2022], in addition to previous scores from Blowout [2019] and Ancient Secret [2016].

Piloted by Flavien Prat, the Too Darn Hot bay broke towards the back of the field from the outermost post 7, as stablemate Chantilly Road was hustled by Joel Rosario to battle for the lead with the John Velazquez-piloted Macanga. This pair, with their respective Hall of Fame jockeys aboard, put eight lengths between themselves and the rest of the field after a quarter-mile in 23.02 seconds over the firm going.

Macanga held a half-length advantage over Chantilly Road with a 13-length gap to Vino Rouge in third position after a half-mile in 46.03 seconds, as Prat remained patient aboard Oversubscribed another six lengths back in the two-path, sitting sixth-of-seven.

Prat said he anticipated a hot pace, but was still unsure about his chances aboard the post-time favorite with such a large deficit to overcome.

“I felt like there was going to be some pace, but when they open up so much – and I had respect for the horses up front - you never know if you’re going to be able to run them down,” said Prat. “Thankfully, she did. When I tipped her out and asked her to make a run, she responded very well.”

The positions remained unchanged after three-quarters in 1:10.34, and Oversubscribed advanced in the far turn, climbing to a narrow third over the Jose Gomez-piloted Vino Rouge but still many lengths off the pacesetting Macanga, who continued to lead as Chantilly Road started to fade from the front-end.

At the stretch call, Macanga’s six length advantage also began to diminish as Oversubscribed gained rapidly down the center of the course and was now a head behind the retreating Chantilly Road for second position.

At the sixteenths-pole, the early pacesetter had finally come back to the field and Oversubscribed went past at once, extending to a 3 1/4-length victory over Vino Rouge, who also passed Macanga late, in a final time of 1:35.59.

Macanga held on for third, with Awesome Czech rounding out the superfecta. Gala Brand, Chantilly Road, and Curlin’s Girl completed the order of finish. Tina Ballerina and Grayosh were scratched, along with main-track only entrants Value Area and Just Music.

Prat said that Oversubscribed, who won her debut going 1 1/16 miles on February 10 at Tampa Bay Downs before a last-out second here traveling at that same distance on May 5, benefitted from the torrid fractions.

“I think she could probably stretch out, but she definitely needs some pace to run at,” Prat said. “The last two races she didn’t have any pace to run at and pace is something that she needs.”

Gomez said he was comfortable to sit well off the sharp pace, and his filly was game to respond like she did to get up for place-honors.

“I seen those two hook up on the front, so I just sat chilly and waited until the right moment,” said Gomez. “When I asked her she responded well, but we were just second best today.

The score marked the third victory for Prat, Brown, and Klaravich Stables as a unit on today’s card. In Race 1, Vesting took an 11-furlong inner turf maiden tilt over stablemate and Klaravich Stables-owned Factor Analysis. The team reunited with sophomore colt Unmatched Wisdom impressively taking a nine-furlong allowance versus elders in Race 2.

The now 2-for-2 Cairo Prince dark bay may come under consideration for a pair of nine-furlong stakes at Saratoga Race Course, including the $135,000 Curlin on July 19, restricted for 3-year-olds which have not won a graded sweepstakes at one mile or over in 2024, and the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun on July 27.

The Prat-Brown-Klaravich Stables trio finished their day with the Wild Applause score in Race 10 with Oversubscribed. Out of the group-placed Cape Cross mare Zurigha, she was a $481,041 purchase at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Bred in Great Britain by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, Oversubscribed banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 3-2-1-0. She returned $4.20 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday, at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race program that features the New York-bred $125,000 Dancin Renee in Race 8. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.