Idol takes the applause in ‘Big ‘Cap’

Santa Anita Handicap (Grade 1)

IDOL didn’t have the pre-race qualifications to match the likes of Maxfield in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap but he came out half a length the best.

Trained by Richard Baltas, Idol closed down the centre of the racetrack to catch Express Train by a half-length with the previously unbeaten Maxfield another length and a half back in third.

It was first stakes race victory for Idol, a four-year-old son of Curlin owned by Calvin Nguyen, though he had been second behind last weeks’ rivals in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes behind Kiss Today Goodbye and third behind Express Train and Tizamagician in the San Pasqual Stakes earlier this winter.

This time, over the mile and two, and carrying 4lb less than Express Train and 5lb less than Maxfield, he made progress into sixth after Express Train had swooped to the lead at the mile mark.

Joel Rosario, winning three ‘Big ‘Caps’ in a row, fanned his mount into the centre of the track for the stretch run and he caught Express Train in the final strides. The winner completed in 2m 02.46secs, one of the race’s slowest runnings over the past 45 years.

“My horse loves this distance. I just wanted to keep him away from the rail and he handled it easily. He responded when it came time to run and he had some kick. I watched all his races and I could see he tries hard every time. What a strong finish today. He ran really big,” Rosario said.

Trainer Richard Baltas said: “It’s unbelievable. I mean, I’ve been coming here since I was 13 years old. I saw all the greats run here in ‘Big Cap’ and you know, you never think you’re gonna be here.”

Express Train picked up his second Grade 1 placing having also been the runner-up to Charlatan in the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes.

Godolphin’s favourite Maxfield lost his unbeaten record stretching to a mile and two for the first tim.

Blacker first

Also on the card, the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stake over a mile on turf for older horses went to Hit The Road. It was a first Grade 1 win for the horse and his trainer Dan Blacker.

Florent Geroux guided Hit The Road through a narrow hole between horses in the stretch to get the better of the favourite who had led of the bend and battled on well.

“When I came here from England I said I wanted to give myself 10 years to win a Grade 1 stakes and I did it in nine.” Blacker, son of world-renowned equine sculptor Philip Blacker, is married to TVG racing presenter Christina. He said afterwards: “This is all about the horse. He’s a true racehorse. We’re fortunate to have him with such a great group of owners.”

It was Hit the Road’s sixth win in nine starts and a fourth in a row. Blacker said: “It’s a credit to the owners. They’ve been so patient with this horse. They’ve given him time to get over a little issue he had last year and reach his potential. That was the key thing. To win these big races, you have to give horses time to reach their potential.”

Smooth Like Strait, facing older horses for the first time, led at the eighth pole but could not hold off Hit The Road, who rallied inside of him to cover the mile in 1m34.48secs over firm turf.

The former Irish-trained Going Global also won the Listed China Doll Stakes on the Saturday Santa Anita card.

The Mehmas filly, bred by Nicky Hartery, was winning her second blacktype race since arriving in the US. She won by a length and three-quarters.

There were two Derby trials in New York and Florida. In Tampa, Mark Casse trained Helium, a son of Ironicus, to take the Group 2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby by three-quarters of a length under 56-year-old rider Jose Ferer.

Helium is unbeaten in his three races and virtually assured of qualifying for the Kentucky Derby with the 50 qualifying points he picked up.

Casse said Helium may go straight to the Kentucky Derby off his Tampa Bay Derby victory, although a final decision will be made later.

In Aqueduct, the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes over a mile went to Weyburn, a son of Pioneerof the Nile trained by Jimmy Jerkens and ridden by Trevor McCarthy, who beat two Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables horses in Crowded Trade and Highly Motivated.