Lexington-based trainer Paulo Lobo earns Breeders’ Cup spot with gelding from Brazil
Jockey Alex Achard describes In Love as being like a good wine, something that gets better with age and experience.
The Frenchman had reason to use this favorable comparison Saturday night at Keeneland after the Brazilian-bred In Love won the $750,000, Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile.
“Every race he shows up and he’s even better every time,” Achard said after guiding In Love to a 1 1/2-length victory in a winning time of 1:34.84.
This was Achard’s fifth stakes win and his first Grade 1 victory.
Now, In Love, a 5-year-old gelding, will have the chance to show up at next month’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar in California.
In Love bested a stacked Turf Mile field that included morning-line favorite Order of Australia, who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile last fall at Keeneland, and Ivar, who won the Keeneland Turf Mile last year.
Order of Australia finished last, 12 lengths behind In Love, and Ivar finished fourth.
“We got a great post position. Going to the first turn we had a great spot, but he didn’t show up,” said John Velazquez, Order of Australia’s jockey. “Sometimes you get a good position and you ask them, but there’s nothing.”
In Love’s victory capped a high-profile day of stakes racing at Keeneland during the opening weekend of the 2021 Fall Meet. A crowd of 21,333 was on hand.
On Saturday, Bell’s the One, Blowout, Rattle N Roll and In Love all earned spots in corresponding Breeders’ Cup races next month at Del Mar.
Bred in Brazil, In Love raced in Argentina in 2019 before moving to the United States when the coronavirus pandemic affected horse racing in Argentina.
Trainer Paulo Lobo, who is based in Lexington, also trains Ivar. Lobo said a big key to In Love’s success was traveling to Arlington International Racecourse and winning a race with In Love wearing blinkers.
Earlier this year In Love also won at Kentucky Downs in Franklin.
“I think the horse is improving,” Lobo said, while also noting the confidence that In Love has. “I think we are maybe going to have three horses in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Tell Your Daddy, also ridden by a Frenchman in Julien Leparoux, finished second and Somelikeithotbrown was third.
With Ivar being unable to secure consecutive wins in the Turf Mile, only two horses, Gio Ponti in 2010 and 2011 and Dumaani in 1995 and 1996, have been repeat winners in the event.
This story was originally published October 9, 2021 at 7:40 PM.
