Elusive Bluff Claims Pilgrim
The Pilgrim Stakes was supposed to take place on Sunday, at Belmont Park Racecourse, but had to be postponed due to bad weather. On Wednesday, the contenders for this $159 300 Grade 3 event walked into the starting gates and got ready for a fast paced horse racing event. One of the six contenders had a lot to prove, as it was his debut in a stakes race and his second career start. But Elusive Bluff did not look intimidated at all as he charged comfortably towards the wire.
Elusive Bluff was bred by the Eldon Farm Equine LLC and was sired by Elusive Quality. His dam, Megans Bluff, was a very good racehorse in her day, winning the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes, Grade 3 Arlington Oaks, Grade 3 Arlington Matron Handicap and the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap. On the 5th of September, at the Belmont Park Racecourse, Elusive Bluff won his debut maiden special weight race, a victory that did not go unnoticed by Michael Moreno. Moreno purchased the bay colt for his Southern Equine Stables for $600 000.
Jockey, Michael Baze, kept Elusive Bluff in fifth position for most of the race, while Show Me The Cash set the pace. Not having much room to move, Baze bided their time and when a gap opened up at the top of the stretch, Elusive Bluff exploded with power, overtook his rivals and kept on charging until the end. Show Me The Cash finished in second position, with Relatively Ready in third. The front runners were followed home by Duke of Homberg, Pynaformer and Herr Mozart.
The victory at the Pilgrim Stakes has given Elusive Bluff an entry into the $1 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, which will be held at the Santa Anita Racecourse later this month, but Moreno is still unsure if he will be racing in the Juvenile Turf or the $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeder’s Cup Juvenile. They will first run Elusive Bluff on the Pro-Ride course and see how he takes to it. Hopefully, Elusive Bluff will be able to make it three for three.
