Pioneer Spirit pays immediate dividends in Tenacious S.

Malibu Moon’s veteran stakes winner Pioneer Spirit chalked up his third black type victory in the $75,000 Tenacious S. Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds, taking the 1 mile and 70 yard contest by a head over Blended Citizen (VIDEO).

The 6-year-old was claimed for $150,000 out of his last start, Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs, an optional allowance race he won and earned a stellar Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

Tringale came out of the gate best of all, with Pioneer Spirit sitting just to the pacesetter’s outside. After a half-mile in :48.04, Pioneer Spirit moved up along side Tringale and took over the lead with a quarter-mile left. A quartet of challengers made a run in deep stretch, but Pioneer Spirit held them all off to finish the distance in 1:44.09 on a sloppy racetrack.

“We got a good trip just right outside of the speed,” winning rider David Cohen said following the win. “He had to dig in late but showed a lot of heart and I was really happy with the way he performed. The track was playing to early pace so I wanted to be in a good spot. I think there’s a stake for him opening day at Oaklawn, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Pioneer Spirit, now owned by Larry Roman, Heads Up Racing and Lucky Dog Stables, sports an excellent record of 11-4-7 in 28 starts and has earned $696,578. He is one of Malibu Moon’s 11 stakes winners this year, and along with Captivating Moon, who won the Buddy Diliberto Memorial, gave their sire a stakes double on Fair Grounds’ Saturday card.

Pedigree notes from the TDN

A half-brother to 2013 GIII Gardenia S. winner Devious Intent and two other stakes performers, Pioneer Spirit has a family with older names not often seen close up in pedigrees these days. His dam, a half to GSW Runspastum (Woodman), has the Round Table mare Wedding Reception as her granddam. In addition to Pioneer Spirit’s family line, Wedding Reception produced Danzig=s GSWs Lech and Crimson Guard and Nijinksy II’s GSW Savina, as well as a Storm Cat mare who became the dam of GI Garden City Breeders= Cup S. Magnificent Song.