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Gomez guides Molengao to first stakes win in San Antonio

Posted: Sunday, February 04, 2007 7:07 PM

MOLENGAO

Benoit & Associates photo

By Mike Curry

T N T Stud’s homebred Molengao (Brz) closed willingly to edge game pacesetter Ball Four in the closing strides and earn his first stakes win by a head on Sunday in the $250,000 San Antonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita Park.

Jockey Garrett Gomez picked up the mount on Molengao at the last minute after his mount, Backus, was a late scratch and Molengao’s scheduled rider Victor Espinoza was injured earlier on the card. Gomez had never previously ridden the six-year-old Royal Academy horse.

Gomez allowed Molengao to settle comfortably off the pace as Grade 2 winner Ball Four and multiple graded stakes winner Preachinatthebar dueled through a spirited opening quarter in :22.96 in the 1 1/8-mile race for older horses. Ball Four shook free of Preachinatthebar, the 2-to-1 favorite, to take a two-length lead through a half-mile in :47.50 as Molengao saved ground more than four lengths behind the leader.

“I’ve watched him run and I know what kind of a kick he has,” Gomez said. “I got a little concerned going to the half-mile pole, because he kind of came out of the bridle a little and wouldn’t switch leads for me. He got some dirt in his face and we got shuffled back a little bit farther.

“I was able to wait and try to regroup, because I know this horse has a solid one-eighth of a mile kick and we’d be in good shape if I could find daylight.”

El Roblar confronted Ball Four on the turn as Gomez moved Molengao into striking position. Ball Four gradually turned back the challenge of El Roblar, but Molengao closed with a rush after being angled wide by Gomez and collared the pacesetter just before the wire, completing the trip in 1:48.67 over a fast track.

Ball Four was 1 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher El Roblar.

Trained by Paulo Lobo, Molengao placed in both the 1 1/2-mile Sunset Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2) on turf and Native Diver Handicap (G3) on dirt in 2006.

“The horse had been training well,” Lobo said. “He always tries hard every race, and everything worked very well today. We’ll talk with the owner [about the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 3]; he runs on dirt or grass and we have a lot of options.”

Molengao improved to four wins from 13 starts and more than doubled his earnings to $298,477. He is out of Group 1 winner Court Lady, by Locris.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor