NEWS
Gomez seizes the day at Turfway
Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009 8:35 PM
FURTHEST LAND
Emily Lang/Turfway Park
To view the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes, click here.
by Tim Nichols
Jockey Garrett Gomez proved why he is one of the world’s top riders on Saturday by winning all three stakes races on the Kentucky Cup card at Turfway Park.
After winning the Kentucky Cup Distaff Stakes (G3) and Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes (G3) earlier on the card, he capped his day with a neck victory in the $195,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (G2) aboard Furthest Land.
Entering off three-straight unplaced finishes, most recently finishing fourth in the Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes on July 25 at Canterbury Park, Furthest Land closed from fifth to win by a neck over Dubious Miss.
A four-year-old Smart Strike gelding owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Furthest Land won his only previous start on a synthetic surface, taking an optional claiming race on April 5 at Keeneland Race Course.
“When we got Garrett, my confidence skyrocketed,” trainer Mike Maker said. “I loved his race on the Polytrack at Keeneland, and we just haven’t had a chance to race on it since. I threw his race on the dirt at Canterbury out because I knew he prefers this surface.”
Maker said he will point Furthest Land to the Fayette Stakes (G2) on October 31 at Keeneland and then, possibly, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on November 7 at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.
Dubious Miss, ridden by Calvin Borel, took the lead from pacesetter Timeless Fashion in early stretch as Furthest Land launched his bid.
“Calvin’s horse came out a little but I got [Furthest Land] on his right lead and hit him twice left-handed,” Gomez said. “After that, he straightened out nicely.”
Furthest Land covered 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic Polytrack surface in 1:48.41 for his seventh win in 15 career starts with earnings of $329,689.
With the track favoring closers, Gomez reserved El Brujo at the back of the ten-horse field in the Kentucky Cup Sprint. El Brujo, who has made each of his 12 career starts on Polytrack, was angled out entering the stretch by Gomez and accelerated past four opponents in the final furlong for a half-length win (video).
El Brujo, making his first start away from Woodbine, completed six furlongs in 1:09.04 as the 2.80-to-1 favorite.
“He ran huge,” trainer Malcolm Pierce said. “I was a little worried down the backside because I didn’t expect him to be that far back. But I guess Garrett knew what he was doing, because he did a great job getting him up.”
Bred in Ontario, El Brujo improved to five wins in 12 careers starts and boosted his bankroll to $415,956 with the victory. Out of the winning Devil’s Bag mare Enchanted Spell, he is a half brother to stakes winner Galadriel.
Gomez started the graded stakes sweep in the Distaff Stakes aboard multiple graded stakes winner Indescribable, guiding her to a 3½-length score (video).
Racing in midpack as Whirlie Bertie led the field through a half-mile in :47.14 and six furlongs in 1:11.45, Gomez angled Indescibable four wide entering the stretch.
The Pleasant Tap mare collared the pacesetter in midstretch and drew away to win at odds of 2.10-to-1, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.92.
“I had the perfect trip—the kind of trip jocks dream of,” Gomez said. “I just put her behind horses and let her settle down the backstretch. I got her in the clear at the three-eighths pole. I asked and she did the rest—very easy race to ride.”
Bred in Kentucky, Indescribable is out of the multiple stakes-winning Flying Paster mare Catnip. She improved to seven wins in 22 career starts with earnings of $474,492.
For Equibase charts, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times
