Bradester romps in the mud for second straight Monmouth Cup score
July 31st, 2016
The six-year-old son of Lion Heart was never challenged in the race, leading all the way home while establishing fractions of :23.21, :46.83, 1:11.23 and 1:35.26. Bradester was six lengths clear in the lane and Bravo wrapped up on his mount long before crossing under the wire in 1:42.21 for 1 1/16 miles.
The duo paid $3.20 as the 3-5 favorite and were followed by Scuba in second. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back to third-placer Mr. Jordan while Adirondack King, near 3-1 second choice Blofeld and Encryption completed the order of finish.
Bradester is now 10-6-2 from 24 career starts and has banked $1,176,532 lifetime. He just joined the millionaire’s club thanks to his last start in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs. The bay horse posted a half-length victory on that occasion, one month after opening the season with a 2 1/4-length score in the Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Bradester has shown a definite liking for Monmouth. In addition to the Majestic Light and his back-to-back Monmouth Cup victories he also captured the Salvatore Mile (G3) over the track last year and has placed in the 2014 running of that contest and the Monmouth Cup as well as the 2015 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3).
The Eddie Kenneally trainee also boasts wins in the Mineshaft Handicap (G3) and Ack Ack Handicap (G3), and a runner-up effort in the Indiana Derby (G3).
Bred in Kentucky by Doug Branham, Bradester sold for $195,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Florida two-year-old. He is out of the Grand Slam mare Grandestofall, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Short Round.
Bradester’s third dam is Grade 2 heroine Zealous Connection, who produced Grade 3 scorer Here’s Zealous, Grade 3-placed stakes victor There’s Zealous and stakes vixen She’s Zealous.
Bradester photo courtesy of Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
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