Races
race replay
Won Maiden Special Weight $40,000 at Gulfstream Park on his first start, leading at every call and earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. He completed 6 furlongs in 1:09.1/5. Click on his photo to watch the video, courtesy of the Thoroughbred Daily News.
Won an Allowance at Aqueduct, $46,000, going 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 3/5.
Won an Allowance at Aqueduct, $48,000 going 1 1/16 miles in 1:48 3/5
race replay
Won the Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct from gate to wire going 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 4/5 earning a 115 Beyer Speed Figure. Click on his photo to watch the video, courtesy of the Thoroughbred Daily News..
race replay
Won the Stymie Handicap at Aqueduct going 1 1/8 miles, stalking in hand and drew clear by 4 lengths in 1:50 3/5, earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. Click on his photo to watch the video, courtesy of the Thoroughbred Daily News.
Race Chart Footnotes
February 7, 2008 Gulfstream Park Understatement showed speed along the inside into the stretch, then increased his margin to the wire under a strong hand ride.
January 1, 2009 Aqueduct Understatement set the pace along the inside, opened a wide gap in midstretch and was fully extended to hold on in the late stages.
February 14, 2009 Aqueduct Understatement stalked the pace in hand while in the two path, took charge midway on the turn, advanced three wide into the stretch, extended his lead in midstretch and held off the runner-up under right hand urging.
January 16, 2010 Aqueduct Understatement sprinted clear soon after the start, raced in hand while racing uncontested on the lead to the turn, shook loose in upper stretch and drew away under a vigorous hand ride.
March 7, 2010 Aqueduct Understatement moved up from outside in the early stages, stalked the pace in hand on the backstretch, lodged a bid closing the gap on the far turn, took command midway on the turn, extended his advantage in the upper stretch then drew away under a vigorous hand ride with the rider glancing back while well clear a sixteenth out.
April 17, 2010 Charles Town Classic Understatement angled over for position inside and had his heels clipped in the process, rated the pace near the rail through the backstretch, was pressured at the rail through the final turn but weakened from the head of the lane.
Sustaining injury in the Charles Town Classic, Understatement's full potential was never realized.
February 7, 2008 Gulfstream Park Understatement showed speed along the inside into the stretch, then increased his margin to the wire under a strong hand ride.
January 1, 2009 Aqueduct Understatement set the pace along the inside, opened a wide gap in midstretch and was fully extended to hold on in the late stages.
February 14, 2009 Aqueduct Understatement stalked the pace in hand while in the two path, took charge midway on the turn, advanced three wide into the stretch, extended his lead in midstretch and held off the runner-up under right hand urging.
January 16, 2010 Aqueduct Understatement sprinted clear soon after the start, raced in hand while racing uncontested on the lead to the turn, shook loose in upper stretch and drew away under a vigorous hand ride.
March 7, 2010 Aqueduct Understatement moved up from outside in the early stages, stalked the pace in hand on the backstretch, lodged a bid closing the gap on the far turn, took command midway on the turn, extended his advantage in the upper stretch then drew away under a vigorous hand ride with the rider glancing back while well clear a sixteenth out.
April 17, 2010 Charles Town Classic Understatement angled over for position inside and had his heels clipped in the process, rated the pace near the rail through the backstretch, was pressured at the rail through the final turn but weakened from the head of the lane.
Sustaining injury in the Charles Town Classic, Understatement's full potential was never realized.
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Competition Understatement finished ahead of.....
Horses are often judged by the company they keep. Here are some very good horses Understatement defeated: Tale of Ekati (multiple graded stakes winner of $1,182,992), Gone Astray (multiple graded stakes winner of $1,125,162), Ah Day (graded stakes winner of $918,874), Mambo Meister (multiple graded stakes winner of $703,725), Icabad Crane (multiple stakes winner of $580,895 & 3rd in the Preakness), More Than A Reason (graded stakes winner of $576,258), Atoned (graded stakes winner of $559,786), Nite Llight (graded stakes winner of $546,960), Bunker Hill (multiple stakes winner of $425,609), Racketeer (multiple graded stakes placed winner of $412,190), Seniors Pride (multiple stakes winner of $324,295). 
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Competition Understatement finished just behind....
As previously noted, Understatement ran with tough company. Probably none tougher than Blame in the William Donald Shaefer (G3) at Pimlico in 2010. After setting the pace, Understatement tired to finish only slightly more than five lengths behind the winner, Blame. As we all know, later that same year, Blame defeated the remarkable Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The Charles Town Classic $1,000,000: To quote Rolly Hoyt writing for TrackSide View on April 15, 2010 "Paul Pompa Jr.'s Understatement could be considered one of the fastest older horses in training right now. Said trainer Todd Pletcher, "If he can do it, I think he's certainly capable of running big figure races no matter where he goes from here on, but that is the million-dollar question." Understatement led the field in this million dollar race, but "was angled over for position inside and had his heels clipped in the process, rated the pace near the rail through the backstretch, was pressured at the rail through the final turn but weakened from the head of the lane." Realizing his full potential slipped away after injury here. |
The Buzz....
February 7, 2008 Thoroughbred Daily News A 3/4 brother to the good distaffer Roar Emotion (Roar), MGSW, $635,912, Understatement was purchased for $1.05 million by WinStar Farm on day one of the 2006 Keeneland September sale. Turned over to Todd Pletcher, the bay colt trained forwardly at Palm Beach Downs ahead of his debut, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 Jan. 26. Sent off the 13-10 chalk to score at first asking, Understatement sped to the early lead, raced well within himself on the front end and drew clear to best Keep Laughing (Distorted Humor) by three lengths in an impressive and professional effort. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0 $24,000.
January 15, 2010 David Grening, Daily Racing Form Trainer Todd Pletcher may have lost his two top Aqueduct inner-track loving mares to retirement, but at least he still has the inner-track specialist Understatement in the barn. Understatement made it 3 for 3 over the inner track, with a ridiculously easy 4 1/2 length front-running victory in Saturday's $65,000 Evening Attire Stakes. On Saturday, Understatement confirmed that he was (to form) striking the front soon after the start under David Cohen and then sailing through fractions of 23.53 seconds, 47.19, 1:11.44, 1:36.24 while completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.94. "His training had suggested he should run like that," said Jonathan Thomas, an assistant for Pletcher.
January 16, 2010 Associated Press Understatement Wins Big A's Evening Attire Stakes Understatement won the $65,000 Evening Attire Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, beating entrymate Well Positioned by 4 1/2 lengths. Cruising through the 1 1/16 miles on an uncontested lead, Understatement won for the fourth time in 14 starts. he is unbeaten in three races over Aqueduct's winterized inner track.
January 28, 2010 Daily Racing Form. The Paul Pompa Jr. owned duo of Understatement (115) and Well Positioned (107) are currently the fastest older horses in the land based on their one-two finish in the Evening Attire Stakes.
March 5, 2010 horseracingnation.com Understatement Looks To Make Noise In Stymie To say that Understatement has performed well over Aqueduct Racetrack's inner track would be something of a, well, understatement. The 5 year old Distorted Humor horse is 3-for-3 on the inner, including a front-running, 4 1/2 length victory in the Evening Attire in his most recent start on January 16.
March 7, 2010 horseracingnation.com Understatement Sharp in Stymie Understatement ran his inner tract record to 4-for-4 Sunday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, coming from off the pace to post a 3 3/4 length victory over National Pride in the 55th running of the $65,000 Stymie. Under a perfect ride from jockey David Cohen, Understatement relaxed in second behind early fractions of 23.78, 48.50 and 1:12.71 set by National Pride, then accelerated to take the lead midway around the far turn and cruised home under a hand ride. "It worked out very nice," said Cohen, who had won the Evening Attire aboard Understatement over the inner track on January 16. "On paper, the number one horse (National Pride) seemed to be the speed and I just let him take the lead. My horse is very professional and he made my job very easy today." Understatement's time for the 1 1/8th miles was 1:50.63 on the fast inner tract, where he also posted a pair of victories last year in optional claimers. "We know he likes the inner track; today, he showed complete professionalism," said Jonathan Thomas, assistant to winning trainer Todd Pletcher. "He laid off the pace and was very, very relaxed, just waiting on a cue from David. He handled the mile-and-an-eighth beautifully."
March 9, 2010 breedingracing.com/news Distorted Humor Adds US Black-Type In the US, former Grand Lodge Thoroughbreds shuttler Distorted Humor added a black-type success when 5 YO entry Understatement scored a 3.75-lengths victory in the US $65,000 listed Stymie Stakes (9 furlongs) at Aqueduct in New York. Understatement (ridden by David Cohen for trainer Todd Pletcher) defeated 5YO gelding National Pride. Understatement (a US $1.05 million yearling at the 2006 Keeneland September Sale) took his record to 5 wins, including January's Evening Attire Stakes over 8.5 furlongs at Aqueduct and 4 placings from 15 starts for US $199,155 earnings.
