NEWS
Johnny Eves unchallenged in Palos Verdes
Posted: Sunday, January 25, 2009 7:23 PM
JOHNNY EVES
Benoit & Associates photo
by Myra Lewyn
Johnny Eves sprinted to a clear early lead, set an uncontested pace, and coasted to a comfortable win in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap (G2) on Sunday at Santa Anita Park.
The five-year-old Skimming gelding emphatically rebounded from a last-place finish behind In Summation on New Year’s Day in the El Conejo Handicap (G3), in which he battled for the early lead through a blistering opening quarter in :21.25 before being eased in the 5½-furlong race.
Johnny Eves had things his own way on Saturday in the six-furlong Palos Verdes as he set a more moderate pace of :22.23 and :45.02 through a half-mile and led his six foes by a length under Garrett Gomez. Toting high weight of 118 pounds, the bay gelding opened a 1½-length lead in early stretch and extended his advantage to 1¾ lengths at the wire.
Johnny Eves covered the distance in 1:08.56 as the 2.60-to-1 second wagering choice on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface.
Allowance winner Devoted Magic, the 2.40-to-1 favorite, rallied from next to last to finish second under Joe Talamo. Multiple graded stakes-placed stakes winner Halo Najib finished another three-quarters of a length back in third.
Gomez said Johnny Eves traveled better in the Palos Verdes than in the El Conejo.
“He was in more of a comfort zone,” Gomez said. “He’s very fast from the gate, but he really doesn’t want to go [early fractions of 21 seconds and 44 seconds]. Today, the pace was better for him and he showed some versatility.”
Johnny Eves halted a seven-race winless stretch last season when capturing the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (G3) on November 22 at Hollywood Park in his 2008 finale. His best season was in 2007 when he won half of his ten starts, including the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.
Johnny Eves is trained by Jay Robbins for owners-breeders Carl and Sharon Hilliard’s Mooncoin LLC.
“It’s a little village in Ireland,” Sharon Hilliard said in explaining the name’s origin. “We got lost there once, and thought it would be a good name.”
California-bred Johnny Eves, who is out of the Capote mare Capote’s Halo, improved his overall record to seven wins in 20 career starts and boosted his lifetime bankroll to $581,120.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
