Missed the Cut proved a marathoner to watch after a dazzling performance in the Oct. 1 $100,000 Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. Riding the fence throughout under a shrewd ride from Umberto Rispoli, the John Sadler trainee roared by the field turning for home, and romped by 5 1/2 lengths in his first North American stakes score.
Owned in partnership by Bee Zee, Lanes End Racing, St. Elias Stables, Edward Babington, Edward and Lynne Hudson, the 4-year-old Quality Road colt had been winless in three tries since joining Sadler's stable earlier this year.
Stalking a pace of :24.65, :49.79, and 1:15.23 set by Azul Coast, Missed the Cut broke free from the traffic at the top of the lane and rolled to a sizable advantage over his four rivals. He hit the wire in 2:32.78 for the 1 1/2 miles on a fast main track.
Kiss Today Goodbye was second over Azul Coast.
* Missed the Cut is a stakes winner in the U.K. He landed the 2022 Churchill Stakes at Lingfield last year as a 3-year-old.
* Donner Lake was scratched at the gate, which reduced the field to four.
What They Said
“(Missed the Cut is) a horse that can run long distance. He had a good race here in the spring before we went to Del Mar, he showed he liked the main track. This is his fourth start (stateside), so his whole story isn’t written yet, but it was a good race for him today." - John Sadler
