Breakthrough went to the front right out of the starting gate and never looked back on his way to posting a half-length victory in the $100,000 Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, 23 July.
The four-year-old Nyquist gelding, who entered Saturday’s race off a previous wire-to-wire score over the same course and distance, improved his overall record to 4-3-1 in 17 starts.
Breaking from the rail in the five-and-a-half furlong turf contest, Breakthrough went right to the front to set the pace. He was soon joined by Admiral Abe (by Midshipman), who sat just off his flank in second. That pair dueled through the far turn to the top of the stretch, where they were joined by Belgrano. The trio battled through the lane with Breakthrough asserting his authority nearing the wire to earn the victory. Belgrano was second, with Admiral Abe taking third.
Bred in Kentucky by Highclere and Springtown Show Stables, Breakthrough is out of Murky Waters, a winning daughter of Storm Creek. Breakthrough is a half-brother to Red Vine, winner of the Listed Majestic Light Stakes and placed in the G1 Cigar Mile and G2 Kelso Handicap. Murky Waters is out of the multiple Stakes-winning mare, Fort Pond, and is a half-sister to multiple Stakes-winners Fort Prado (G3 John B. Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf H., G3 Fair Grounds Breeders’ Cup H.) and Cammack (Black Tie Affair Stakes).
The leading first crop sire of 2020, Nyquist is having yet another solid year, led by multiple Graded Stakes winner Scalding (G3 Ben Ali Stakes, G3 Challenger Stakes, etc.). In addition to Scalding, Nyquist is represented by full brothers Slow Down Andy (G3 Sunland Park Derby) and Team Merchants (Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes), Turnerloose, winner of the G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes and Absolutely Zero (Fasig-Tipton Futurity).
