Let Em Know edges Roscoe Goose again in G2 Pilgrim
Deftly handled by jockey Edgard Zayas, Let Em Know got first run on a familiar foe to land a half-length victory in the Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 2-year-olds, on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Departing from the outermost post 11, Let Em Know was away well and kept in the clear by Zayas as they raced in fourth through an opening quarter-mile in 24.81 seconds and third through a half-mile in 49.24 seconds. He moved into contention approaching three quarters in 1:13.22, overtook Stock Rising with one furlong to travel under Zayas’ left-handed drive, and held safely as Roscoe Goose closed on the outside.
The final time for 1 1/16 miles over the firm Widener turf course was 1:42.15.
Roscoe Goose finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Pass On By, who edged Kipros, House of War, and Stock Rising in a four-way photo for third. They were followed by High Official, Berta’s Stitch, Dover Street, Chief of Peace, and And the Runner Is. Blaring Ambition, who is entered in Sunday's Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland, was scratched.
The Pilgrim was a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which will be contested October 30 at Keeneland.
“Beautiful trip. I think the post position really helped him,” said Zayas. “He’s a big horse. He doesn’t really have that turn-of-foot. He really got into a good rhythm out there. Whenever I pushed the button, he kicked on. He’s a horse that is a fighter. He doesn’t have that turn of foot, but he’ll keep fighting with another horse.”
The Pilgrim was the second time Let Em Know and Roscoe Goose had finished 1-2 as Let Em Know defeated that rival by a head August 16 at Saratoga Race Course. Permanent Record, third on August 16, exited that live heat to graduate by 5 1/4 lengths in today’s fourth race at Belmont.
Trained by Whit Beckman, Let Em Know has raced exclusively on turf since finishing last-of-6 when sprinting on the main track July 18 at Saratoga. He entered the Pilgrim off a fifth from post 2-of-8 in the Grade 1 Summer on September 12 at Woodbine. He was cross-entered in Sunday’s Grade 2 Castle & Key Bourbon at Keeneland.
“It was just one of those things where he came out of [the Summer] so well, didn’t lose an ounce of weight, really just did everything he needed to do to say that race wasn’t necessarily something that took him back,” said Beckman. “I knew if we could get him the trip, he’s got the talent.”
Zayas, who has ridden Let Em Know since the maiden win, said the outside post worked to his advantage in the Pilgrim.
“When he broke his maiden, we were on the outside the whole way, but Woodbine he was inside a little bit,” said Zayas. “It was tough, a rough trip, he was boxed in and he’s a big horse that won’t really have that turn-of-foot to really kick on when it’s time, so it helped to be outside today.”
Beckman concurred with Zayas.
“Turf racing is such a trip-dependent kind of race, and I think that inside post last time is really kind of what kept him from at least being a little better than he showed in that race,” said Beckman. “I think he’s much more talented than that race reflected. I was a little nervous on the outside post for this, because he hasn’t broken really fast in some of his previous starts, but he really got out well and obviously in his [fourth] start, he’s figuring it out. Edgard gave him the perfect trip around. I couldn’t have been happier with the way he ran.”
Beckman said Let Em Know will be shipped to Kentucky on Monday to train up to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
“It’s always a relief to get any of them a win at any level,” said Beckman. “We thought he was going to be a dirt horse, but we’ll take graded stakes on the turf.”
Let Em Know, by Jackie’s Warrior and out of 2019 Grade 2 Inside Information winner America’s Tale, sold for $150,000 at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale and for $600,000 at the OBS March Sale of Two Year Olds in Training. He is owned by Anthony Tate, Joe Pickerrell, Robert Ogilvie and Diamond T Racing.
Kendrick Carmouche, who had faced Let Em Know when guiding Oscar to a runner-up finish in the Summer, said it had always been his intention to track Let Em Know in the Pilgrim.
“I had a perfect trip,” said Carmouche. “I broke from the inside. I just wanted to follow [Let Em Know]. I went to Woodbine a couple weeks ago and I thought that horse had a rough trip and I thought that he was the horse to beat in this whole race, so I followed him. We were second best. He [Let Em Know] got away from me around the turn a little. My horse was still a little green. Overall, I’m proud of him and pleased to see him keep running that good.”
Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.
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