Giocoso wins the G3 Commonwealth Turf, Courtesty Kurtis Coady
Churchill Downs Press
Giocoso became horse racing’s newest millionaire when he closed mightily down the stretch of the Matt Winn Turf Course to win Saturday’s 20th running of the $299,800 Commonwealth Turf (Grade III) by a head over Chapman’s Peak at Churchill Downs.
Giocoso ran 1 1/16 miles over “firm” turf in 1:41.47. Jose Ortiz rode the winner for trainer Keith Desormeaux and owner Ronald Ortowski’s Rocker O Ranch LLC.
This impressive performance was Giocoso’s second career stakes win. Earlier this year, he won the $500,000 Secretariat (GII) at Colonial Downs.
“It was a little anxious moments down the stretch but the good horses know how to get the job done,” Desormeaux said. “Jose was able to get him to relax down the backside and I was blessed to have a jockey that used his skills to do that and we got the job done.”
Giocoso relaxed well off the pace in eighth and in the clear down the backstretch as Outrunner led the field of 10 3-year-olds through fractions of :23.15, :47.66 and 1:11.67 with Chapman’s Peak on the leader’s right hip. Leaving the final turn, Giocoso, who was under a strong hold by Ortiz, had one horse beat when he tipped out eight-wide at the top of the stretch. As Chapman’s Peak, a recent winner of a first-level allowance at Keeneland, edged in front with a furlong to the finish, Giocoso utilized his powerful closing kick down the lane to wear down Chapman’s Peak in the final yards for the milestone triumph.
“He’s a horse that comes to run every time and always gives you his best,” Ortiz said. “I couldn’t have gotten the job done today without Keith and his team back at the barn to get him ready to run. He broke well and I got him to settle going into the first turn. I asked him to go little by little and at the quarter pole when I tipped out, I could tell I had a ton of horse left.”
Giocoso netted $177,250 and now boasts career earnings of $1,119,971 from a record of 4-2-2 in 13 starts.
Giocoso returned $9.48, $5.08 and $3.56 as the 7-2 third betting choice. Chapman’s Peak, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, paid $6.38 and $4.46 at odds of 9-2. Outrunner, ridden by Jaime Torres at 49-1, paid $8.66 to show.
Anegada, Montador, California Burrito, Plensa, King’s Plate winner Mansetti, 5-2 favorite and Grade I-winner Troubleshooting and Kentucky Derby 151 participant Flying Mohawk completed the order of finish. Stimulate was scratched.
Giocoso, purchased for $75,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is a son of Not This Time out of the Fastnet Rock (AUS) mare Nutcracker Suite and was bred in Kentucky by Breed First LLC.
COMMONWEALTH TURF QUOTES
Jose Ortiz, jockey, Giocoso, winner: “He’s a horse that comes to run every time and always gives you his best. I couldn’t have gotten the job done today without Keith and his team back at the barn to get him ready to run. He broke well and I got him to settle going into the first turn. I asked him to go little by little and at the quarter pole when I tipped out, I could tell I had a ton of horse left.”
Keith Desormeaux, trainer, Giocoso, winner: “It was a little anxious moments down the stretch but the good horses know how to get the job done. Jose was able to get him to relax down the backside and I was blessed to have a jockey that used his skills to do that and we got the job done.”
Brad Cox, trainer, Chapman’s Peak, runner-up: “I thought we had a good trip. He ran hard and it was a good effort against stakes company for the first time. He ran well.”
