Saturday, September 5, 2015
Live Oak’s homebred 3-year-old colt World Approval scored another graded victory Saturday in the $300,000 Saranac S. (G3) with an expertly timed ride by Joel Rosario.
The gray or roan World Approval annexed the American Derby (G3) and Sophomore Turf S. earlier this year and has earned $364,050 after Saturday’s victory.
After breaking from post 7, Rosario dropped World Approval in along the rail near the back of the eight horse field. The half-mile went in a solid :46.29, with World Approval more than a half-dozen lengths from the front.
Around the final bend, Rosario bided his time along the hedge, waiting for an opening that finally appeared at the top of the stretch. World Approval forged to the lead inside the furlong marker, holding off Money Multiplier to win by a head in 1:45.39, breaking the existing track record of 1:45.45.
"I just wanted to be on the inside the whole way and try to save some ground," Rosario said. "I could see when (John Velazquez) pointed to the outside (aboard Money Multiplier). I said, 'OK, that's my chance to go.' (My horse) was just skipping trying to keep on going—keep on coming. When he got there, he moved really beautiful on the inside."
Bred in Florida out of the With Approval mare Win Approval, World Approval now has a 4-0-2 record from nine starts. The colt is a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner and $2.6 million earner Miesque’s Approval and multiple graded stakes-winning millionaires Za Approval and Revved Up.