Set PieceSet Piece © Mathea Kelley/Racingfotos.comUSA

Second Graded success at Pimlico for Set Piece

Set Piece (Dansili) collected his second Graded success at Pimlico (third in total) on Saturday with a late rally to win the Gr.3 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 11th September 2022:

Sent off the favourite, Set Piece broke slowly and, by the time he was into stride into the first turn, spotted the leader several lengths. Remaining relaxed up the backstretch, Set Piece raced just off the rail behind a wall of horses and was still well back with a half-mile left to run.

As longshots Bizzee Channel and English Tavern continued to duel on the lead into the turn, Set Piece began to quietly improve his position without being asked to get into the pack as the field straightened for home. Tipped widest of them all, the bay came with a run into the final furlong and shook off a challenge from Pao Alto to win going away.

"That's kind of his race. He's not super-fast, but he comes running at the end," Brad Cox's assistant Katie Tolbert said. "You just have to kind of keep him relaxed and save some ground and find a good spot. He loves it here. He ran great here on Preakness weekend. That's kind of his race and Sheldon rode him perfect. We're super happy with him."

"At the half-mile pole I had a double handful, and it was just whether or not I could keep him in the clear," added winning jockey Sheldon Russell. "I got him outside and he took off. Very, very nice. I think it helped that he won over this course before. I got really lucky and was fortunate to be able to ride him today."

Capturing a trio of stakes at Churchill Downs last summer, Set Piece rallied to victory in Pimlico's Gr.2 Dinner Party Stakes on Preakness day 2021, posting a career high 101 Beyer Speed Figure. Closing from well back to be fifth in Saratoga's Gr.3 Forbidden Apple Stakes in July this year he produced another late kick to go from last to fourth in the Gr.1 Arlington Million Stakes held at Churchill Downs (13th August).