KINGSTON, Jamaica - With the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Championship of racing to start today, Friday, November 4 and continuing tomorrow Sat, November 5 at the Keeneland racetrack in Kentucky in the USA, eyes will be peeled on the showpiece event, the 10-furlong Breeders’ Cup Classic, scheduled for Saturday.
The eyes, however, of Jamaican owners and breeders Michael Bernard, known in local racing circles as Michros, and Edison Chai will not be trained on the Classic.
Bernard and Chai’s interests are firmly cemented on the participation of their filly Atomically in the Juvenile Fillies event, an 8 ½ -furlong call to be contested today.
Atomically made her career debut at Gulfstream Park, Florida, on August 19, 2022, finishing third. She won a maiden race for two-year-old fillies in her second start in a seven-furlong Gulfstream dirt race on September 2, going wire-to-wire and drawing off to a seven-length win.
Her next outing was in the US$400,000 FTBOA My Dear Girl Florida Sire Stakes travelling 1 1/16 miles on October 1, which she won handily by 6 ¾ lengths in a field of 10.
Atomically was bred in Florida by the freshman sire Girvin out of the mare Shesunbelievable, by Uncaptured.
When Atomically achieved her second success on September 2, she was part-owned by Jose Pinchin, Bernard, and Chai with Pinchin, a Jamaican also the conditioner.
Since then, a change of ownership took place with Pinchin selling his shares (one third) to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, while Bernard and Chai maintained their ownership shares (50 per cent). American Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher then took over the conditioning of Atomically. Pletcher quickly moved Atomically from Florida to Keeneland to prepare for her Breeders’ Cup participation. Further, in the ownership saga of Atomically, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners sold a portion of their 50 per cent to Harry Colburn.
“Atomically has been progressing well since her move from Gulfstream Park to Keeneland. I have been able to watch her exercise routine as she prepared for the Juvenile Fillies, and without doubt, her progress can be seen each time she gallops. Confirmation of the filly’s gradual improvement has come from Pletcher, who is vastly experienced in preparing horses for these premier events. The distance of eight and a half furlongs is not a hindrance as Atomically has already won over this trip. I am therefore expecting a good, honest effort from Atomically.
“Win or lose, it is an honour for two Jamaicans to have an entry in such a celebrated race as the Juvenile Fillies.
“Atomically is going to perform well and make us all proud,” Bernard said.
Fourteen horses are listed to participate in the Juvenile Fillies with Atomically exiting from post-position number eight. She will have the highly respected Luis Saez holding the reins and is listed at 12-1 in the morning line odds.
Of the lot of 14, horse number 10, Chocolate Gelato, another from the shedrow of Pletcher is the listed 7-2 favourite. Interestingly, Atomically and Chocolate Gelato are training partners.
Atomically was bred by Tracy Pinchin and Bernard.
