BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Live Oak Plantation homebred Victory Achieved snapped a string of three runner-up finishes in stakes with a resounding score in the US$178,233 Nearctic presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (Grade 2) over the sweeping E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine Saturday. Seven 3-year-olds and older raced six furlongs in the Nearctic.
In addition to picking up the US$105,256 first-place check, Victory Achieved earned a $5,000 Export Incentive for the Grade 2 win outside Florida paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owner’s Association to FTBOA Hall of Fame member Charlotte Weber and her Live Oak Stud as breeder.
Essex Serpent was a length in front of Nobals and Western Whirl in a joint second while jockey Rafael Hernandez had Victory Achieved settled behind them in fourth through a half-mile in :45.49. Essex Serpeant took the field into the long stretch when Hernandez took Victory Achieved to the outside and into the clear, picking up momentum three-sixteenth out. Victory Achieved hit the front past the eighth pole then drew clear to win by three lengths in 1:09.30 on the turf rated as good. Nobals was second, a neck ahead of Works for Me in third. Essex Serpent, Gas Me Up, Western Whirl and Isivunguvungu completed the order of finish.
Victory Achieved was let go at 5-1 and paid $13.20 to win.
Trained by Mark Casse, 5-year-old Victory Achieved made his first start this year in May at Gulfstream Park, winning a top tier, $62,500 optional claiming over five furlongs on the synthetic course. Casse kept the son of Street Sense on synthetic for the $99,000 Karl Boyes at Presque Isle Downs, but he was carried seven-wide turning for home and could not get to winning Florida-bred Spirited Sol in the stretch, finishing second by three lengths.
Returning to turf for the first time since April of 2024 when third versus maidens at Gulfstream, Victory Achieved was again second on August 1 at Colonial Downs, missing by just a head to My Boy Prince in the $154,000 Van Clief going five-and-a-half furlongs on the green.
The bay gelding came into the Nearctic off another game effort in the six-furlong Laurel Dash on the turf at Laurel Park on September 12, this time leading under pressure throughout before succombing to a late inside run by Alogon to again get the place money.
Victory Achieved is out of Lady of Victory by War Front and improved to five wins with four seconds and a third in 14 starts with proceeds of $343,097.
Live Oak Plantation purchased Lady of Victory for $400,000 as a yearling at the 2013 Keeneland September Sale. As a winner, she earned $122,124 from a win in 11 starts before retiring to produced four foals including Florida-bred Souper Quest, winner of the $95,000 Wolf Hill Stakes on the Monmouth Park grass on July 18. Lady of Victory is a half-sister to Bee Dees Bid, dam of stakes-winner Howgreatisnate.
Editor’s Note: Difficulty in receiving the Nearctic photos from Woodbine resulted in the use of a photo of Victory Achieved in a previous race at Colonial Downs.
Return to the October 3 issue of Wire to Wire
