NEWS
Justenuffhumor wins Fourstardave with closing rush
Posted: Sunday, August 02, 2009 8:41 PM
JUSTENUFFHUMOR
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Steve Bailey
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was not thrilled to see Justenuffhumor acting up in the gate prior to the $158,750 Fourstardave Handicap (G2) on Sunday at Saratoga Race Course (video).
McLaughlin was pleased, however, when he saw Justenuffhumor split horses in deep stretch under Alan Garcia and power to a 2 ½-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf race, giving the four-year-old Distorted Humor colt a Grade 2 victory in his stakes debut.
“Alan [Garcia] rode him great, and the gate crew has done a good job,” McLaughlin said. “He’s a difficult horse at the gate. He’s always a little tricky at the gate.”
Garcia settled Justenuffhumor toward the back of the nine-horse field behind pacesetter Cowboy Cal, who took the field through a half-mile in :47.63 and six furlongs in 1:12.50.
Moving in toward the rail on the turn, Justenuffhumor became trapped between horses but Garcai waited patiently to find daylight. When he finally found that opening in midstretch, Justenuffhumor shifted gears and darted between Cowboy Cal and Cosmonaut to reach the finish first. He covered the distance in 1:42.83 on turf rated as good.
“He broke good and was in good position,” Garcia said after the race. “My horse was nice and quiet and relaxed. By the three-eighths pole, I was only looking for the hole to run to. We knew he was nice when he broke his maiden. He was a little funny in the gate. He likes to play around.”
Mambo Meister closed with authority to finish second, a half-length in front of multiple Grade 2 winner Cowboy Cal.
McLaughlin said he was not surprised by the outcome as his horse won his fifth consecutive outing—all this season—from six career starts.
“He’s run that way every time,” McLaughlin said. “That’s his fifth time to win, and every time he’s finished very well. This was a little better group. We have to keep stepping up. We’ll obviously look at the Bernard Baruch Handicap [(G2) at 1 1/8 miles on August 28].”
Justenuffhumor is one of three winners from four starters out of the multiple stakes-winning Broad Brush mare Justenuffheart and is a half brother to champion Dreaming of Anna and multiple Grade 2 winner Lewis Michael. His second dam is Kitten’s First, the dam of champion Kitten’s Joy and multiple Grade 1 winner Precious Kitten.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
