NEWS
Richard’s Kid scores repeat win in Pacific Classic
Posted: Saturday, August 28, 2010 8:06 PM
RICHARD'S KID
Benoit & Associates photo
For video of the Pacific Classic Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
Richard’s Kid overhauled Group 1 winner Crowded House (GB) in the closing strides for a repeat victory in the $1-million Pacific Classic Presented by TVG (G1) on Saturday at Del Mar.
The Lemon Drop Kid colt surged into the stretch with a sweeping bid under Mike Smith and steadily closed in on Crowded House, who spurted to the lead near the eighth pole. Richard’s Kid reeled in the game runner-up and edged past to win by three-quarters of a length. He completed 1 1/4 miles on the synthetic Polytrack surface in 2:03.27 for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Zabeel Racing International.
"Mike Smith, he sure knows how to ride that horse,” Baffert said. “He rides a good horse with a lot of confidence. He basically told me today, ‘If you have him ready, I’m going to win it for you.’ "
With the win, Richard's Kid secured a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on November 6 at Churchill Downs as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
Crowded House held off fast-closing Dakota Phone for second in the ten-horse field.
"For a moment or two there, I thought it was going to be a dream,” said Ben Cecil, who trains Crowded House for a partnership. “I thought we were going to get it. But then reality stepped back in. But he ran wonderfully well and we're very pleased. I think he's a very good horse."
Isle of Giant’s set the tempo under Patrick Valenzuela through an opening quarter in :24.82 and a half-mile in :49.25 with Temple City, Hold Me Back, and 5-to-2 favorite The Usual Q. T. stalking from just behind the pacesetter. Crowded House tracked from sixth while Smith reserved Richard’s Kid in ninth in the ten-horse field.
“As soon as we left the gate, he got into a nice, relaxed rhythm and I knew he was going to run a big race,” Smith said.
Crowded House launched his bid under Corey Nakatani from three wide entering the stretch, but Richard’s Kid uncoiled his winning bid from the far outside to deny Crowded House.
“He’s been really working well. Coming into the race, he’d just been firing bullets,” Baffert said of Richard’s Kid, who improved to eight wins from 26 starts and earnings of $1,566,370. “In a race like this, it’s always nice when they run like they’ve been working.”
Bred in Maryland by Robert Meyerhoff’s Fitzhugh, Richard’s Kid is out of the multiple stakes-winning Broad Brush mare Tough Broad. He halted a three-race winless stretch in the Pacific Classic. After winning the San Antonio Handicap (G2) to kick off the season, Richard’s Kid finished seventh in the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) and third in both the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (G1) and Cougar II Handicap (G3).
"You know, this is only the second time I've ever been on him,” Smith said. “Last year [in the Pacific Classic] and this. I just want to ride him once a year."
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Sandra, Rexford, NY on September 04, 2010 at 03:18 PM
Mike Smith is the BEST jockey of his generation. He certainly is my all time favorite and I miss him here in NY. I always look for the races he's riding in to cheer for him. It was really smart of Baffert to put him back on Richard's Kid. Mike is called a money rider and that's exactly what he is- if you want the best ride for your horse, look for Mike Smith. I have always wished that he was the regular rider of Easy Goer since he was always a regular rider of the Phipps horses. History may have been different. This is a jockey with great hands, intelligence and integrity. Go Mike!
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Posted by: Jack, Baltimore, MD on August 29, 2010 at 02:09 AM
Great ride by Mike Smith to get Richard's Kid home late to win back to back Pacific Classics. I backed Crowded House in the race. I've watched him race Europe's best on turf. I've also seen him run really well on synthetics. On the Tapeta surface at Meydan during the Dubai racing carnival. Where he was beaten by a nose by Allybar in the Al Maktoum Challenge Rd.2. Allybar went on to finish 3rd in the Dubai World Cup in that now famous 3-way photo between Gloria De Campeao, Lizard's Desire, and Allybar. I'm really impressed with how well Crowded House's turf form from Great Britain has translated onto the synthetics in America. This colt has a tremendous turn of foot. Crowded House also had a 2nd place finish on turf in Dubai to Alexandros in the Al Rashidya. But Crowded House was a G1 winner as a 2yr.old in Great Britain. Winning the 2008 Racing Post Trophy. With an explosive turn of foot. Like he was just dropped into the race from out of the clouds. Beating Jukebox Jury that day. I really believe in short order that Crowded House will become a Graded Stakes winner if he continues to race in America?
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Posted by: Leonard, Lawndale`, CA on August 28, 2010 at 09:46 PM
When the money is put up Mr. Baffert know's how to get them ready, he had this race in mind all year long and well done. Congrat's to the connection's and Mr. Baffert, another excellent training job.
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