Time and Motion times it perfectly in QEII Challenge Cup
October 15th, 2016
Jockey John Velazquez settled the Jimmy Toner trainee into a stalking spot in midpack about three wide as 8-5 favorite Catch a Glimpse led the way up front. That filly set splits of :22.99, :47.46 and 1:12.41 while tracked by Hawksmoor.
Time and Motion maintained her three-wide trip rounding the turn and first took off after Catch a Glimpse, who began fading upon hitting the lane, and then Hawksmoor, who assumed command. The Tapit filly drew even with Hawksmoor but seemed to stall for a brief moment before Harmonize, closing fast on the outside, suddenly revitalized her.
Time and Motion stuck her head out on the wire to finish 1 1/8 miles over the firm Keeneland turf in 1:50.24. Harmonize had a nose in front of Hawksmoor on the line to complete the blanket finish, while On Leave finished another 4 3/4 lengths back in fourth.
Catch a Glimpse was also passed by Mokat and Stays in Vegas, ending up only beating Queen Caroline on the wire.
This was the second straight outing in which Time and Motion defeated Catch a Glimpse. She handed the Canadian Horse of the Year her first loss on turf in the Lake Placid Stakes (G2) at Saratoga on August 21. Prior to that, the duo met up in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), where Catch a Glimpse proved best by a half-length on the wire.
Before that one Time and Motion reeled off three straight wins, including her first stakes scores in the Wonder Again Stakes and Memories of Silver Stakes. Interestingly enough, that latter race’s namesake was also trained by Toner for the Phillips.
Time and Motion also shows a third in last year’s Miss Grillo Stakes (G3) and just missed by 1 3/4 lengths when fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to Catch a Glimpse in 2015. She improved her record to 9-5-1-1 and boasts $923,150 in career earnings thanks to the QEII Challenge Cup win.
The Kentucky-bred lass is out of the Kris S. mare Ellie’s Moment, a multiple Grade 3-placed stakes winner who has also produced Grade 2-placed stakes scorer Awesome Bet and multiple Grade 3-placed Moment in Dixie.
Ellie’s Moment is a three-quarter sister to multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire and noted Japanese sire Brian’s Time, who placed in the 1988 editions of the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). This female family is also responsible for champions Sunshine Forever and Ryafan as well as top sire Dynaformer.
Time and Motion photo courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography
QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP QUOTES
Jimmy Toner, trainer Time and Motion, winner:
On importance of winning the race for the Phillips family
“You don’t know how big this is. This is my third time for them. It’s been 20 years since Memories of Silver won. I was hoping I didn’t have to wait another 20 years. It was today or God knows when.”
John Velazquez, jockey Time and Motion, winner:
“I had a great trip. We came out of there running to make sure we weren’t too far back. Once those three horses (Catch a Glimpse, Hawksmoor and Stays in Vegas) went on to (the lead in) the first turn, they set a good pace in front of me. Then I saved all the ground in the first turn.
“Going into the second turn, the horse on the outside I anticipated was going to come in front of me (Queen Caroline) (did) so (I thought) let me get out of here and go around her. I went around her and when I saw the quarter-pole, (Florent) Geroux was already tapping on his horse (Catch a Glimpse). I thought, well, he’s done then. So I’ve gotta worry about the horse next to him.
“I thought I had the horse. When I got to the horse in front of me (Hawksmoor), my horse didn’t want to pass; she wanted to stay with her. ‘No, Mommy. Come on. Stay on it. We gotta pay attention here.’ That other horse (Harmonize) came on the outside of us, and that’s what made her go forward. It was worth it.”
Junior Alvarado, jockey Harmonize, second:
“I was in front of one horse the first half of the race. I was following John Velazquez (aboard Time and Motion) and Jose Ortiz (aboard On Leave), two of the favorites. I was hoping some space would open up to follow them so I didn’t have to go wide. Getting close to the quarter-pole, I saw Jose still stuck on the rail and Johnny had to drift out, so I knew I had no more choice. I had to go out.
“I put her on the outside; it took a little momentum to get going. But once she gets going…I had my hopes coming down the lane that I might get it. She ran huge. Can’t take anything away from the winner. They both ran a winning race today. It was a wide-open race. They were all pretty even. I would have loved to win but love the way she ran today.”
Corey Lanerie, jockey Hawksmoor, third:
“It was good. She jumped away well and put me right in the race. She was a little keen –more than I expected – but it never took away from her (performance). When I asked her, she gave me everything she had.
“I could feel them (Time and Motion and Harmonize) the whole way. That race was about three jumps too far.”
Florent Geroux, jockey Catch a Glimpse, seventh:
“She went a little quicker the first quarter than we wanted, but we slowed it down pretty good the second quarter. We went from :23 (:22.99) to :47 (and change) but obviously we wanted to go a half in :50 and change. She got tired.”
Mark Casse, trainer Catch a Glimpse, seventh:
“She’s run hard all year. Maybe she just didn’t bring her A game today. We’ll go home and regroup. I was surprised that the other horse (Hawksmoor) was right on top of us and she ended up running really well (finishing third). I don’t think the time was too fast. We just had a bad day.”
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