Modernist

Modernist finished fifth in his September 2019 career debut and then ran third in December at Aqueduct before putting it all together in his third start Jan. 25 at Aqueduct for his first race as a 3-year-old. The dark bay or brown colt led from start to finish in a four-length runaway victory.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was encouraged enough by that win going 1 1/8 miles that he entered him in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds at the same distance. The race drew an overflow field and was split into two divisions, and Modernist seized command in the stretch of the second division, opened a clear leand, and powered to a one-length victory.

He earned 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby with the win, which all-but guarantees Modernist a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. Modernist subsequently ran third in the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby March 21 at Fair Grounds.

Following that race, Modernist was unplaced in two graded stakes races, ending his 3-year-old campaign.

Modernist won his first race as a 4-year-old on Apr. 3, 2021. He won the Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct as the favorite, rating off a slow early pace and wearing down the pacesetters in the stretch. He covered 1 1/8 miles on dirt, over a slow track, in 1:54.38. Junior Alvarado had the winning mount.

Modernist is a homebred of Marty and Pam Wygod. He is out of the unraced Bernardini mare Symbolic Gesture, a half-sister to 2004 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion 2-year-old filly Sweet Catomine and 2009 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Life Is Sweet.