Monday, October 5, 2015
Grand Arch held off the Pizza Man to capture the grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile for owners Jim and Susan Hill on Saturday, Oct. 3. The event was a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), which will take place on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
"I would hope to think so," trainer Brian Lynch said of a Breeders' Cup Mile bid. "It's great to see him as he gets older. He just keeps getting better and better. We had this race in mind this year after a game effort last year. I was worried about the turf getting a little soft today, but he handled it well."
The Shadwell marked the first grade 1 win and second straight graded stakes victory for the 6-year-old gelding, who won last out in the Fourstardave H. (G2) on Aug. 15. With earnings of $1,607,230, Grand Arch improved his record to 7-6-6 from 23 career starts.
"When we got to the half-mile (pole), I had so much horse (that) I was just waiting for a little room," Saez said. "Thank God when we got to the stretch he got a little room and he kept going. At the end, I saw two horses flying and I thought they were going to beat me, but he's a fighter. He just kept going."
Click here to watch a replay of the race.
