Country Grammer Battles Back In Gold Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

Narrowly favored at 9-5 in Monday's GI Hollywood Gold Cup, WinStar Farm's COUNTRY GRAMMER (c, 4, Tonalist–Arabian Song, by Forestry) became his Lane's End-based stallion's first Grade I winner, narrowly outbattling Royal Ship (Brz) (Midshipman) in a rousing finish. Away alertly, the former Paul Pompa runner was taken hold of to sit second as longshot Brown Storm (Chi) (Scat Daddy) showed the way through moderate splits. Switched off nicely in the two path for the run down the backstretch, Country Grammer overtook Brown Storm at the three-furlong pole, but soon had outside company in the form of Royal Ship. The latter looked to have all the momentum and was clearly in front entering the final eighth of a mile, but Country Grammer was in for the fight, re-took the lead in the dying strides and got home just in front as Royal Ship came back at him at the wire. Trained by Chad Brown to win last year's GIII Peter Pan S., defeating future G1 Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) into third on that occasion, the $60,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $450,000 OBS April juvenile was fifth in the GI Runhappy Travers S. and changed hands for $110,000 as part of the late Pompa's dispersal at this year's Keeneland January sale. He was beaten a neck into second by Royal Ship when making his local debut in the GII Californian S. Apr. 17. O-WinStar Farm LLC; B-Scott & Debbie Pierce (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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