By Dick Jerardi
The track may be closed for the annual August break, but horse vans still leave the stable gate with Parx-based horses for stakes in the mid-Atlantic and even Saratoga where one of Parx’s very best just ran the race of his life in a Grade I.
There is that out-of-town horse that won a Parx stakes and then won again on the biggest stage at Saratoga. There is the wonderful story about the son of Parx legend Stewart Elliott winning his first career stakes with a ride that made it appear he had been a jockey for many years instead of a few months. And there are those out-of-town horses in stakes that we could see on Pennsylvania Derby Day.
Twisted Ride is my ideal of a racehorse – always tries, loves to run, wins photos. The 5-year-old Pennsylvania bred, trained by Michael Moore, had nine wins, six seconds and four thirds from 25 lifetime starts with $581,408 in lifetime earnings before making his inaugural trip to Saratoga last Saturday. It is a giant leap from allowance races at Parx to the Grade I Vanderbilt at the Spa, racing against horses trained by Wesley Ward, Bill Mott and Steve Asmussen, with combined earnings of nearly $2.5 million.
Twisted Ride’s game is speed, but no horse stays in front of Skelly for long. Twisted Ride, under Parx Hall of Famer Kendrick Carmouche, did get a brief lead, but Skelly, who had been in front after the first call in 14 of 16 lifetime races (second in the other two), cleared off down the backstretch of the 6-furlong race, with Nakatomi (Ward) and Twisted Ride (34-1) chasing.
Nakatomi just kept coming and so did Twisted Ride. Nakatomi eventually passed the 1-1 favorite and, in another few strides, Twisted Ride would have passed Skelly (Asmussen) as well.
“Incredible,” Moore texted after the race. “Never been so happy about a 3rd.”
Horses like Twisted Ride are what make the game so appealing and inspiring. The horse is now Grade I placed. And, proving he just finds a way to run fast enough to keep up with the competition, he got a career-best 100 Beyer figure in the Vanderbilt.
Another terrific Pa. bred was in another open stake over the weekend, this time at Laurel Park for the DeFrancis Memorial Dash. Gordian Knot, in his fourth start for trainer Jamie Ness, came running late to get up to be third for owner Joe Imbesi and get his career earnings close to half a million with six wins and four thirds in 13 starts.
The race was won by 7-5 favorite Dean Delivers. Gordian Knot (13-1) got a career-best 93 Beyer, a weekend theme for the Pa. breds from Parx.
When Pa. bred Dontlookbackatall came from her Belmont Park base to run in the June 24 Power By Far Stakes at Parx, she was sent off at 1-5. The odds were due to her great record and the fact that Irad Ortiz, Jr. made the trip down from New York. The 4-year-old filly did not disappoint as she got there in time for a comfortable three-quarters of a length win.
Check out the replay of Ortiz’s ride on the filly in last Thursday’s Caress Stakes at Saratoga. There was a 3-horse duel a few lengths in front of them and they were well clear of the fifth horse. It was your classic perfect trip and Ortiz took full advantage by waiting to ask his filly for her best until well into the stretch. When he asked, she answered and won it by a neck at 8-1, confirming the Power By Far form.
Another much-watch replay – last Friday’s Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park and the ride by 18-year-old apprentice Christopher Elliott. His mount Reclusive was 34-1. She was so far back early in the 6-furlong race that she was nearly out of the TV screen. Then, the 5-year-old mare began to roll on the turn. She was flying when she hit the stretch. Most riders would have come wide at that point. Not Elliott. He pointed to a hole between horses in the stretch and let her roll to the finish line. She won going away and was nearly as far in front during the gallop out as she had been behind in the initial furlongs.
Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes was fascinating enough in the running when 2-year-old champion Fierceness held off the rally of Sierra Leone to win by 1 length, with the rest nowhere. What was really intriguing was Todd Pletchter’s comment afterward. He said the Aug. 24 Travers might be too soon for Fierceness. Well, there is just one Grade I stake for 3-year-olds left on the calendar after the Travers. That would be the Sept. 21 Pa. Derby and Pletcher is clearly considering it for his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Florida Derby winner.
A few hours before the Jim Dandy, trainer Kenny McPeek announced that his brilliant 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna would run against the boys in the Travers. If she wins it, she will be in line for Horse of the Year. Win or lose, McPeek has said for weeks he would like the Sept. 21 Cotillion to be her final start before the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
