To view the Goodwood Stakes,
click here
.
by Mike Curry
A strong contingent of U.S.-based older males and this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird garnered much of the attention heading into the Goodwood Stakes (G1) on Saturday at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meeting.
But just like a year ago in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), a European-based horse shipped in to steal the spotlight as Gitano Hernando (GB) held off 2008 Travers Stakes (G1) winner Colonel John to win the Goodwood by a neck in his North American debut.
Gitano Hernando, who entered off a victory in a conditions race at Wolverhampton on September 17, completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.39 under Kieren Fallon on Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface. Marco Botti trains the three-year-old Hernando (Fr) colt for owners Team Valor International and Gary Barber.
"We are absolutely delighted with the horse,” Botti said. “He's just improving all the time. He's a nice horse. He's lightly raced and it's amazing, going from a condition race to [a Grade 1 win]."
With the Goodwood victory at 18-to-1 odds, Gitano Hernando secured a starting spot in the Classic on November 7 during the Oak Tree meeting via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
"He will stay here. The horse is not going back to England,” Botti said. “Whether we go the Breeders' Cup, we don't know yet."
Colonel John finished three-quarters of a length in front of Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner Richard’s Kid. Multiple graded stakes winner Parading finished fourth, followed by Grade 3 winner Chocolate Candy and Mine That Bird.
Californian Stakes (G2) winner Informed finished eighth and multiple Grade 1 winner Tiago never fired and was last in the ten-horse field. Tres Borrachos set the pace through six furlongs in 1:12.64 before fading to finish ninth.
If the Goodwood is an indicator of how the Breeders’ Cup Classic will unfold in four weeks, the American contenders could be in trouble after Gitano Hernando, Group 3-placed in England, turned aside some of the strongest Classic contenders. Last year, European-based runners Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator finished first and second, respectively, in the Classic, and this year superstar Sea The Stars and Group 1 winners Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman are among the potential European contingent for the Classic.
“He's a tough horse and he needed to be today,” Fallon said. “Around the [far] turn, my horse was full of run and I was worried about the horse inside of us, [Chocolate Candy] because I could see he was looking for room. I was afraid maybe we were going to be going for the same gap and that can sometimes be dangerous. My horse just wanted it more than the other horse. He's tough as nails and he really wanted to win.
“I honestly didn't think he could beat the likes of Colonel John, but he's just a very tough horse."
Gitano Hernando improved to four wins and two seconds in seven starts and boosted his earnings to $219,669. He is one of two winners out of the Grade 3-winning Perugino mare Gino’s Spirits (GB).
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor