FOURSTARDAVE GETS ITS WORLD APPROVAL
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » There were probably stronger editions of the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap in the years before it was upgraded to Grade 1. There cannot have been many runnings, however, where a serious case could have been made for every horse in the race. Such was the case with this year’s Fourstardave field of six older turfers.
British import Time Test and Disco Partner, who was riding a three-race winning streak, were made co-post time favorites at 2-1. Every starter had its supporters, but if any horse was relatively ignored, it was World Approval (5-1). The classy five-year-old is having another strong year in 2017, but was shortening up considerably for the Fourstardave – in fact he was trying the one-mile distance for the first time.
As it turned out, the cutback was no problem. Sitting a perfect trip behind the speed, and benefiting from a well-gauged ride from Manny Franco, World Approval exploded through the stretch to win going away by 2¼ lengths. The time on a yielding Inner Turf course was 1 minute, 37.65.
“You couldn’t have asked him to ride a horse any better,” winning trainer Mark Casse said of Franco, who was on board in place of regular rider Julien Leparoux, our at Arlington Park for the day. “The only instruction I told him was
that [World Approval] likes a target. That was one of the reasons we cut him back to a mile – because we thought if we could win the Breeders’ Cup Mile, or have a shot anywhere, it would be a mile [race.].”
As expected, Sassy Little Lila (5-1) led the way early, although Ballagh Rocks made her work for it. The four-year-filly held her ground down the backstretch and around most of the turn, but came under increasing pressure from Ballagh Rocks, as well as from World Approval, whose three-wide move late on the turn put him in a good spot for a big stretch run.
Sassy Little Lila was soon done, but Ballagh Rocks was right there to take over. The 6-1 shot was clear for a few strides, but World Approval had him measured, blowing by on the outside to take charge of the race. Time Test, finally in gear but too late to threaten the winner, passed Ballagh Rocks for the place. Disco Partner, Sassy Little Lila and American Patriot trailed.
“I just rode the best horse in the race,” said Franco. “I just tried to stay out of trouble, and I think that was the key. I saw on paper that he had been on this kind of turf before, and he ran really well. I feel so lucky right now. I want to thank the trainer for giving me the opportunity.”
The Fourstardave is World Approval’s sixth graded win and second Grade 1, following last year’s United Nations Stakes. The Live Oak Plantation homebred has won 9 of 22 starts and earned $1,443,763. World Approval, who is out of the With Approval mare Win Approval, is a half to millionaires Revved up (by Sultry Song), Miesque’s Approval (Miesque’s Son) and Za Approval (Ghostzapper).