Archangel Sweep In, Takes Steward's Cup Marathon

Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 13 years 3 weeks ago

The bay horse didn’t come down from the heavens but Archangel still stormed down the stretch capturing the $1 million Grade I Steward’s Cup Marathon by a length over Highly Regarded at Seattle Downs. He galloped the rigorous two mile distance in 3:24.72.

Bred and owned by Ali LaDuke, he’s a son of Fighter Jet who as a stud horse contributed the likes of East, Clearly Best who won the Ladies Route twice and Auto Pilot and on the broodmare side, More who produced Boann. North American Horse of the Year, the very much celebrated High Flyer served as the broodmare. This powerful mare muscled through the American Triple Crown when she raced winning the Louisville Derby and placing second in the other two legs. She produced other stakes winners like Heavenly Heights (by Then) and by Something Better, Delpeni.

Still, Archangel has generated a lot of attention through his own exploits on the racetrack. He broke his maiden during his final start as a two year old before coming back and finishing sixth in the Tremendous Stakes won by future Louisville Derby winner Don’t Hesitate. He won two races that year but in non-stakes competition when he stretched out at longer distances. He finished out the season with a fourth place finish behind Scorpion King, Black Ferrari and West in the Seek Thrills Handicap.

But at four, Archangel discovered the two mile distance and clearly liked it winning first time out when he took the Gary Cooper Memorial Marathon Stakes over Auto Pilot and Underdog. He finished third in the New York Marathon Stakes before shortening up a little bit and winning the Coyote Lakes Handicap. With three weeks rest before the Steward’s Cup Marathon, he appeared to be ready to run a big race. But he failed to do much finishing sixth in a top notch field where Linkin Park, Wow and Earn the Roses took the top spots with not much to separate them.

The following season, Archangel won three of his five starts including one stakes at the two mile distance. He finished second behind Paralayo in the Prefamageps Stakes at two miles.

Paralayo had lined up for the Marathon too, along with Linkin Park and Wow who had starred the previous year along with Earn the Roses. But one of the newcomers was Long Island Classic winner, Highly Regarded who had finished eighth in the previous year’s Steward’s Cup Classic and perhaps thought that moving up in distance might work out better for him. He clinched his hopes by winning both the New York Marathon Stakes and the James Bond Memorial Stakes. So he appeared to be very strong going into the Marathon.

The gates opened and Archangel broke quickly just behind maverick sophomore Sun and the Stars who had finished third in the Long Island Classic earlier in the season. Paralayo hustled into third and the others bunched behind them with Highly Regarded in seventh. Jockey Oliver Woodruff kept a snug hold on Archangel while Sun and the Stars continued to run freely against a slight headwind, with Paralayo still close on the heels of Archangel.

On the far turn, Archangel slipped a bit into third place but Woodruff appeared hardly concerned as the action shifted to Sun and the Stars still racing breezily over a hard charging Highly Regarded.

As they turned for home, Highly Regarded sped and Archangel put his pedal down and launched a huge bid in the stretch as the two ran to the wire with the latter reaching it first. Highly Regarded prevailed by a ¼ length over Earn the Roses who also made a powerful move.

Archangel at six and with nearly $1 million in career earnings appears to still be in action for this year. He’s residing at Orange Park Stud awaiting his future plans, perhaps a campaign leading to a defense of his new title. Also eschewing the easy life is Highly Regarded who jetted off to Pegasus Feathers International perhaps to prepare for a run at the Desert Classic? That still remains to be seen.

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