Three Chimney’s First-Crop sire Palace Malice got his first Breeders’ Cup winner in dramatic fashion when Structor weaved his way through traffic to win the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by three-quarters of a length.
The bay colt, who cost $850,000 at the 2019 OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds, is also Palace Malice’s first Grade 1 winner and moved the freshman sire into the top three on this year’s First-Crop Sire list.
Structor, in post 2, came out of the gate very quickly and had the lead in the first sixteenth of a mile, but had to wrangle back when several horses to his outside were intent on getting to the front. Jose Ortiz was content to take back and was sixth after a half-mile in :47.55. Saving ground around the final turn, Ortiz shifted Structor out when he saw an opening with a furlong to run and outran Billy Batts to get the mile in 1:35.11 on the firm turf.
“Yes, he had a great post, but he made all the right calls,” said trainer Chad Brown of Structor and Oritz. “He just rode an outstanding race and the horse ran an outstanding race. My staff did a great job bringing this horse along. I’m going to try this horse on dirt at some point. He trains very well on it. He deserves it and he’s got the right running style to potentially run on both surfaces.”
Structor is owned by Jeff Drown and Ron Rachel and is undefeated in three starts and has earned $709,500. Bred by Three Chimneys Farm, he is the first foal out of Miss Always Ready, who is a full sister to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2) winner More Than Real.
