Sunday, August 24, 2008
BERNARD BARUCH, VICTORY RIDE RECAPS
By Francis LaBelle Jr.
Shadwell Stable’s Shakis got a flawless ride from red-hot jockey Alan Garcia to run past unsuspecting War Monger and go on to a repeat victory in the 50th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap at nine furlongs on the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course.
The Bernard Baruch was part of a 12-race card, featuring the 139th running of the Grad 1, $1 million Traver Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm.
With his one-length victory, the 8-year-old, Irish-bred Machiavellian horse became only the third horse to win back-to-back runnings of the Bernard Baruch, joining Win (1984-’85) and Hap (2000-’01).
“He’s really been unlucky. His first race back, he was 10-wide at Keeneland. Then, we went to Pimlico and he had a rough trip. He ran back in three weeks on short rest going 10 furlongs. (But) this is what he wants to do. Alan did a great job.”
If Shakis had been unlucky before, that wasn’t the case on Saturday.
With Thorn Song on the lead, the timer went in 23.40, 48.17, 1:11.67 and 1:35.26. But War Monger was a strong second throughout and took the lead easily. He just never saw Shakis, who had come from eighth to win in 1:46.78.
“I didn’t think we had any chance at the top of the stretch,” McLaughlin said. “I was afraid that they weren’t going fast enough up front; I was looking for a faster pace.
“This just worked out great. This is very special because so many people from Shadwell are here because they are sponsoring the Travers. That makes it special. They are great people to work for. There are like 30 people from Shadwell, and for many of them, this is there first (Saratoga) experience. Sheikh Hamdan (bin Rashid al Maktoum) is a great owner and it is nice to win for people who are so good to you.”
Another who was good to McLaughlin was Garcia. Shakis was his fourth winner of the afternoon.
“I’m very happy,” Garcia said. “Mr. McLaughlin has done a wonderful job with this horse. He gave me the instructions and told me to forget about his last two races. He’s in better form. He was flying at the end. Everything went as planned.”
War Monger was three-quarters of a length ahead of Operation Red Dawn. Close behind were Thorn Song, Elusive Fort (SAF), favored Proudinsky (GER), Drum Major, Sensational Humor, Distorted Reality and Yate’s Black Cat.
“I thought he ran an incredible race from the outside post,” said trainer Bill Mott of War Monger. “I was worried about him breaking from the 10 post. He was in good position throughout. Coming for home, he kicked it in and ran hard.”
PORTE BONHEUR STOPS INDYANNE’S UNBEATEN STREAK
Porte Bonheur won Saturday’s sixth running of the Grade 3, $110,100 Victory Ride for three-year-old fillies at six furlongs, but favored Indyanne may be the ultimate beneficiary, as the experience proved her toughness.
In each of her six previous races, Indyanne had everything her own way, winning by an average of better than seven lengths. This time, however, she broke a bit slowly and jockey Russell Baze opted to send her through a wide open path on the rail, where she set fractions of 22.13, 45.00 and 56.89 on the glib main track. Carrying 123 pounds and spotting Porte Bonheur three pounds, Indyanne fought on, losing by a half-length in 1:09.51.
“We should have won it,” said Indyanne’s jockey Russell Baze. “My filly was standing good in there (the gate), but she wasn’t standing quite as good as I would have liked her. It was ‘go’ time and I didn’t have enough time to re-adjust her footing in there. She’s always been a little bit slow leaving the starting gate, and today was just a little bit more so.”
Still, Porte Bonheur, a Hennessy filly, got the job done. It was the first graded stakes win of her career, and he has now won four of seven career starts.
“I have no complaints,” said trainer David Duggan, whose charge returned $24.60. “I’m very happy. I’ll take it any day of the week. It’s better than losing. She has proven that she is legitimate. I was nervous when I saw Indyanne still there. I knew we were doing good, but I was afraid of her.”
Duggan said he would consider the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at six and a half furlongs at Belmont Park on September 20 for Port Bonheur’s next start.
“I’m not going to take anything away from the winner – she ran a heck of a race,” said Indyanne’s trainer Greg Gilchrist. “But I think the start cost us a neck. Russell (Baze, jockey) had a choice: he could sit there, but the fence opened up and he went ahead and let her run. That’s just horse racing. That’s the way it comes up sometimes.”
BERNARD BARUCH QUOTES
Winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin of Shakis (Ire); No. 6) [repeat winner of the Bernard Baruch Handicap]: “He’s really been unlucky. His first race back, he was 10-wide at Keeneland. Then, we went to Pimlico and he had a rough trip. He ran back in three weeks on short rest going 10 furlongs. (But) this is what he wants to do. Alan did a great job.”
(joking) “We freshened him up and did a great training job.”
“I didn’t think we had any chance at the top of the stretch. I was afraid that they weren’t going fast enough up front; I was looking for a faster pace. This just worked out great. This is very special because so many people from Shadwell are here because they are sponsoring the Travers. That’s makes it special. They are great people to work for. There are like 30 people from Shadwell, and for many of them, this is their first (Saratoga) experience. Sheikh Hamdan (bin Rashid al Maktoum) is a great owner and it is nice to win for people who are so good to you.
“He’s very sound and he trains good. We just wish they ran the Bernard Baruch twice a year.”
Winning jockey Alan Garcia (fourth winner of the day): “I’m very happy. Mr. McLaughlin has done a wonderful job with this horse. He gave me the instructions and told me to forget about his last two races. He’s in better form. He was flying at the end. Everything went as planned.”
Bill Mott, trainer of War Monger (No. 10): “I thought he ran an incredible race from the outside post. I was worried about him breaking from the 10 post. He was in good position throughout. Coming for home, he kicked it in and ran hard.”
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