NYRA/Elsa Lorieul
By Sarah Mace
Following the triumph of Mr. Buff in the Empire Classic two races earlier, Chester and Mary Broman picked up a second 2019 Empire Showcase Day stakes victory at Belmont Park Saturday when homebred Pauseforthecause, a 4-year-old filly by Giant’s Causeway, won her first black type event in front-running fashion, taking the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes for filly and mare sprinters at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Pauseforthecause tipped her hand that a black type win in her eighth stakes try was well within her grasp. On September 12 she dominated an open second-level allowance at Belmont, winning by 5 1/2 lengths after going winless since last December 2018.
Well supported at windows odds of 7-2 in wide-open eight-horse field and partnered with Jose Ortiz, Pauseforthecause wasted little time before throwing down the gauntlet, making the lead by the first point of call and opening up by two lengths.
Blitzing through early splits of 22.51 and 45.05 three lengths ahead of 7-2 Carrera Cat, Pauseforthecause cruised at will, never feeling the hot breath of a challenger behind her. Completing six furlongs in 1:09.11, she stopped the clock a 3 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:15.62.
Fair Regis (6-1) advanced from third to finish second, another three lengths ahead of Holiday Disguise in third. Completing the order of finish were Jc’s Shooting Star, Carrera Cat, Filibustin, Satisfy and More Mischief. Outsider Wadidli Princess was scratched. [VIDEO REPLAY]
Chester Broman said, “[Pauseforthecause] has been training well. Her last race was a very good race. She deserved to win the race today.” Broman added, in his typically understated, way, “It’s been a good day. That’s what we’re doing; we’re trying to breed the better horses.”
NYRA/Janet Garaguso
Jose Ortiz, who took over riding duties from John Velazquez who was not available Saturday, reported, “Honestly, she ran very good last time with Johnny. I watched that replay and I knew the nine horse [Carrera Cat] had speed, but being on the outside, I didn’t know if they wanted to go too fast. My filly has won from behind too, but our plan was to break well and see where [Carrera Cat] would go.”
He continued, “After we broke sharp, I was able to take the lead and take command. I didn’t walk, but I was comfortable the way she was traveling on the lead. I was very confident passing the three-eighths pole. I could’ve waited a little longer, but I was confident. Kiaran has done an amazing job and I’m just happy they gave me the opportunity to ride one of their horses.”
McLaughlin added, “It looked like there was some speed inside and outside. She really likes a clean face and when she broke so well, Jose said, ‘No one wanted to go, so I just went.’ He made a good decision. She ran that way last time for Johnny [Velazquez]. He wasn’t here today, so we were happy to have Jose. She was sharp. She broke and went.”
NYRA/Coglianese Photos
The conditioner also paid well-deserved a compliment to the Bromans. “There’s been no one in the last decade more supportive of New York-bred racing than Chester and Mary Broman. It’s fabulous to see them win with Mr. Buff [in the Empire Classic] and then with this filly. No one deserves it more on this kind of day than them. They’re great owners and wonderful people.”
Pauseforthecause, who has four additional stakes placings in state-bred races, including a third in last year’s Iroquois to stablemate Highway Star, now sports a record of 6 wins from 22 starts with four seconds and six thirds. After the Iroquois victory she boosted her earnings $461,043.
Pauseforthecause is the most successful offspring of Spritely. A Kentucky-bred multiple stakes winner by Touch Gold, the mare was purchased by Chester Broman from the Edward P. Evans Dispersal at the 2011 Keeneland November sale for $850,000. Spritely’s talented Pioneerof the Nile filly Tossup was the Lynbrook Stakes runner-up last year, and a juvenile colt by Super Saver has not started. She has a yearling colt by Curlin and was bred this year to West Coast.
