NEWS: RACING

On a roll, Pauseforthecause runs streak to three in Garland of Roses

Sunday, December 8th, 2019

NYRA/Elsa Lorieul

By Sarah Mace

A commanding 3 1/2-length winner of the Iroquois Stakes for state-breds on Showcase Day in October, Chester and Mary Broman’s homebred Pauseforthecause took her sharp form straight to open foes in Sunday’s $100,000 Garland of Roses at the “Big A.”

Scoring a facile 2 1/2-length front-running victory in the 6-furlong sprint over the main track, the 4-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway ran up her win streak to three.

Co-favored with Our Circle of Love at odds of 6-5 at post time, Pauseforthecause had a little tougher assignment than her main rival. Drawn at the rail, the speedy filly’s hand would be forced, while Our Circle of Love, also a speedster, had the tactical advantage of the outside post.

The third horse out of the gate, Pauseforthecause and Manny Franco – aboard for the first time – immediately forged their way to the lead with supreme confidence.

As the quarter ticked by in 22.61 and the half went in 46.28, Pauseforthecause kept a measured 1 to 1 1/2-length advantage over Our Circle of Love in second.

Ultimately never challenged, Pauseforthecause cruised comfortably under the wire with a 2 1/2-length cushion in a final time of 1:11.91. Our Circle of Love held the place, while New Year’s Wish, who walked out of the gate and spotted the field nine lengths, closed at the rail to finish a brave third. Completing the order of finish were Angel At War and Miss Imperial.

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

After dismounting, Franco addressed the challenge of the rail draw.

“Coming in knowing we had the one-hole, our goal was to break good,” the pilot said.“When we got out of there, I just hustled her forward to get position early. I didn’t know anyone else was going to go with us, but when [Our Circle of Love] went forward as well, I just went onward with her. Our goal was to get the lead. She carried me there and was happy in front. She got it done today and I had plenty of horse in the lane. It was a good perform ance for her today.”

Before her breakthrough first black-type score in the Iroquois seven weeks ago, for which she earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 91, Pauseforthecause had knocked on the door in eight prior stakes tries for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. She is in career form now, having won her last three starts by a combined 11 1/2 lengths. The ease of her Garland of Roses win from a challenging post bodes well for the future and Joe Lee, Kiaran McLaughlin’s New York assistant, agrees.

“It looks like she’s coming into her own and now she has a win against open company as well,” Lee said. “She’s turned the corner and just seems to be getting better with age. She seems comfortable when she breaks, so you might as well not take it away from her. Manny [Franco] hustled her away from there. There were a lot of horses with speed, so I guess he wanted to dictate it, and he did a great job doing so. It was great.”

Lee continued, “It’s been a great year for her. She just gets better and better.” He indicated that the $100,000 La Verdad for state-breds on January 4 could be on Chester and Mary Broman’s radar for a next start for Pauseforthecause.

Pauseforthecause’s dam is Spritely, a Kentucky-bred multiple stakes winner by Touch Gold purchased by Chester Broman from the Edward P. Evans Dispersal at the 2011 Keeneland November sale for $850,000. Of Spritely’s three winners, her Pioneerof the Nile filly Tossup finished second in the 2018 Lynbrook Stakes. She has a yearling colt by Curlin and was bred this year to West Coast.

In 23 starts Pauseforthecause has notched seven wins, four seconds and six thirds and earned $518,793.

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