The Brendan Walsh team celebrated a memorable afternoon with winners in two different states, as Rugged Love and Massarat both found the winner’s enclosure in Kentucky and New York respectively.
The day’s success began at Churchill Downs, where Rugged Love was promoted to first following a dramatic finish.
Breaking alertly, Rugged Love enjoyed a smooth trip throughout, settling comfortably in third as he tracked the leaders under Tyler Gaffalione. Moving into contention around the home turn, he joined the leading pair and dug deep through the stretch, battling gamely all the way to the line.
In the closing stages, however, eventual first-past-the-post Tilt A Twirl drifted into Rugged Love’s path, making significant contact and costing him crucial momentum. Despite the interference, Rugged Love fought all the way to the wire, going down by just a head.
Following a jockey’s objection and a stewards’ inquiry, the interference was deemed sufficient to alter the result, with the placings reversed and Rugged Love rightfully awarded the victory.
Congratulations go to owners Sugar Mill Stables and Tyler Gaffalione, who produced a determined ride aboard the deserving winner.
The Brendan Walsh team soon doubled their tally when Massarat delivered a smart performance to capture her second-level allowance contest at Belmont at the Big A.
The daughter of Curlin switched off beautifully through the opening stages, travelling comfortably as the field set only a steady tempo. Patiently ridden by Manuel Franco, Massarat continued to bide her time before being angled to the outside approaching the home turn.
With clear running in the straight, she produced an eye-catching turn of foot, sweeping around the field to set her sights on the well-fancied favourite, Relaxx. Under a confident ride from Franco, Massarat steadily reeled in the leader before asserting late to record an impressive victory.
Congratulations to Shadwell Stables and to Manuel Franco on a well-judged ride, as the double capped another successful day for the Brendan Walsh Racing team.
