NEWS
I’ll Have Another springs Robert B. Lewis Stakes upset
Posted: Saturday, February 04, 2012 8:10 PM
I'LL HAVE ANOTHER WINS ROBERT B. LEWIS STAKES
Benoit & Associates photo
For video of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
I’ll Have Another enjoyed a perfect trip under Mario Gutierrez and shook free in the stretch of the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park to secure his first career graded stakes win and stamp himself a contender for the Santa Anita Derby (G1).
The chestnut colt from the second crop of Flower Alley had not raced since finishing sixth in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (G1) in September 2011 at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Doug O’Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam. I’ll Have Another, the 2011 Best Pal Stakes (G2) runner-up, made a nice impression in his three-year-old bow by covering the final sixteenth of a mile in :06.32 to prevail by 2¾ lengths at 43.30-to-1 odds.
"He’s an incredibly talented colt and we decided to take a chance in here. We thought he could hit the board and we’d move forward, but he ran unbelievable," O'Neill said. "Mario [Gutierrez] gave him a great ride. He’s always trained fantastic, but we never saw this coming to be honest with you. This is incredible. We’ll look at the Santa Anita Derby [(G1) on April 7] if all goes well."
I’ll Have Another completed 1 1/16 miles on a track rated as fast in 1:40.84 for his second win from four starts. The $120,000 winner’s share boosted his graded stakes earnings to $151,000, a key element on the path to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with graded earnings used to determine the field for the first U.S. classic of the Triple Crown.
I’ll Have Another tracked pacesetter Isn’t He Clever from second through six furlongs in 1:10.52 before storming past that opponent nearing the stretch to take charge.
“This is my biggest win," said Gutierrez, whose two previous graded stakes wins came at Hastings Race Course. "It’s a great thrill.”
Empire Way, a full brother to 2011 champion three-year-old filly Royal Delta, closed gamely from last of eight to take second.
Third-place finisher Groovin’ Solo was disqualified and placed last for causing interference in the stretch when drifting in near the eighth pole. CashCall Futurity (G1) winner Liaison clipped heels with Groovin’ Solo and unseated jockey Rafael Bejarano. Both Liaison and Bejarano were reported to be uninjured.
Dennis O’Neill, brother of Doug O’Neill, purchased I’ll Have Another for $35,000 at the 2011 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. spring sale of two-year-olds in training. Bred in Kentucky by Harvey Clarke, I’ll Have Another is out of the winning Arch mare Arch’s Gal Edith.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Ange, Vancouver, BC on February 04, 2012 at 08:26 PM
Yay for Mario who rides here in Vancouver at Hastings Racecourse! We now know someone personally who's on the Kentucky Derby Trail! So exciting :)
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