Dortmund pulls away in easy Native Diver score
November 29th, 2015
Stevens and Dortmund contentedly tracked in second as Majestic City set the pace in :23.75, :47.61 and 1:11.36 on the backstretch. The tightly bunched field stayed in close contact throughout the race, with Big Cazanova stalking outside of Dortmund while Imperative and Iron Fist followed just in behind.
Stevens hit the button on Dortmund rounding the final turn and the impressive chestnut kicked into gear, easily passing Majestic City and taking over before arriving in the lane. He continued motoring in the stretch and pulled away to return $3.20 as the 3-5 favorite.
Imperative got up to take second by 1 1/2 lengths over Iron Fist. Big Cazanova, last year’s Native Diver winner, followed in fourth and Majestic City faded to last.
Dortmund was a top Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect earlier this year after wiring the Santa Anita Derby (G1) by 4 1/4 lengths, and brought a perfect six-for-six mark into the Run for the Roses. He proved no match for stablemate and eventual Triple Crown champion American Pharaoh in the Derby but still reputed himself well when third.
Following a fourth in the Preakness S. (G1), the sophomore was given a well-deserved break. He returned in mid-October to take the Big Bear S. in his first start in five months and is two-for-two since his return thanks to this Native Diver victory.
Dortmund’s record now stands 10-8-0-1 and he’s banked $1,712,480 in lifetime earnings. Bred in Kentucky by Emilie Gerlinde Fojan, he was an $85,000 RNA as a Keeneland November weanling before bringing $90,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling. One year later, the colt brought $140,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic two-year-old.
Dortmund is by Big Brown and out of the Tale of the Cat mare Our Josephine. The chestnut’s third dam is champion Lakeville Miss.
Dortmund photo courtesy of Benoit Photos
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