Had to Have Him and jockey J G Torrealba (Jerry Dzierwinski/TMJC)
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
LAUREL, Md. — In a race full of troubled trips, Had to Have Him enjoyed a nice one under jockey J.G. Torrealba to take Saturday’s Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs, one of three $100,000 stakes races on Laurel Park’s “Turf Festival” program.
Trained by John Salzman Jr. for Gracie Mae Stables and Great Lake Stable, Had to Have Him broke slowly, but Torrealba slowly inched forward to stalk three wide near the back of the pack as Fore Harp and Where’s Ray set fractions of 22.61 and 45.16 seconds.
Had to Have Him advanced three wide on the turn, eased another path wider turning into the long stretch, then rallied down the center of the track to prevail by two lengths over favored Mischievous Angel.
Fierce and Strong, who checked badly and shuffled back entering the turn, ran an excellent third, a head behind the runner-up. Then came Boltage, and Live High Live Low, who was blocked behind a wall of horses along the fence in midstretch.
Great Idea and Where’s Ray dead-heated for sixth place. Full brothers Fore Harp and Smooth B, and Hunter Joe completed the field. Swill and Worcester both scratched.
Had to Have Him completed the distance in 1:09.20 over the firm course and returned $8.20 to win as the second choice in the wagering.
“Gelding him really made a difference,” said Salzman Jr. “He’s a professional. He handles everything so good. He’s a nice horse to have. When [Torrealba] got him clear, he took off. He’s impressing me every time he runs, this horse.”
Bred in Maryland by Wes Carter, Had to Have Him is a 4-year-old gelding by Force the Pass. He sold for $36,000 as a 2-year-old in training, then was claimed for $20,000 by trainer John Salzman Sr. out of a winning effort in a maiden race on January 12, 2024.
“[My dad] called me about the horse,” Salzman Jr. said. “I really liked [Force the Pass]. We went and looked at [Had to Have Him]. I told [my dad] that it was worth taking the chance, and it paid off.”
Had to Have Him finished third in last year’s Maryland Million Turf Sprint in his final grass run of 2024. Gelded over the winter, he was transferred to Salzman Jr. after his father retired.
Had to Have Him was a visually impressive winner when offered for the $40,000 claiming option in his seasonal debut, an off-turf race on May 31. He then finished a rallying third in the restricted Ben’s Cat Stakes three weeks later, then placed second, beaten a neck, by classy Witty in Colonial’s Van Clief Stakes on August 9.
“We found that spacing him out, where we give him a month between races, really helps him,” Salzman Jr. said.
Salzman Jr. mentioned that Had to Have Him will next race in the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint at 5 ½ furlongs on October 11 at Laurel Park.
