He’spuregold with Paco Lopez riding won the Irish War Cry Handicap for the 5th year in a row. (Grace Harney/EQUI-PHOTO)
Tom Luicci/Monmouth Park
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Maybe the best way to capture what He’spuregold did – yet again – in Sunday’s Irish War Cry Handicap at Monmouth Park is to reference the third-place finisher in the race.
That horse’s name? There Are No Words.
He’spuregold, given clear run by jockey Paco Lopez wheeling out of the final turn, rallied past three rivals in deep stretch on the way to winning the $86,700 Irish War Cry Handicap for the fifth straight year.
The race has only been contested seven times.
“He’s really just a nice horse. I can’t say that enough,” said winning trainer Kelly Breen, who also saddled runner-up One Time Willard in the race. “He’s such a pleasure to be around and he tries so hard. You start to run out of things to say about him.”
Most of the accomplishments by the 7-year-old son of Australian sire Vancouver can be stated with no embellishment needed: He was named New Jersey’s champion turf horse in 2021, New Jersey’s top older male horse in 2022 and 2023 and Sunday’s win marked his seventh career stakes victory, with six coming against state-breds. He also won last year’s Red Bank Stakes against open company.
The winning time for the mile over a firm turf course was 1:36.20.
Breen, who already has a wall filled with He’spuregold’s achievements in his home, said he was confident his sturdy gelding would get the job done when he came off the final turn and was clear.
But he had to run down One Time Willard, second by three-quarters of a length, and There Are No Words, who was a head better than Gold Trust in the tight four-horse finish.
“When he came off the turn and was clear, even though he had three horses to pass, I think that’s when he runs his best, when he has a clear run,” said Breen. “The game plan was not to keep him in too tight because I think he accelerates better when he has clear sailing. When he got into the clear I felt confident. Maybe I felt a little more confident than anyone else, but I know this horse.”
Lopez said that with the exception of some bumping with One Time Willard going into the first turn he had “a perfect trip,” stalking early leaders Gold Trust and There Are No Words, with I’m On Fire side by side with He’spuregold right behind.
“I know this horse very well,” said Lopez. “In the first turn I had a little trouble (with stablemate One Time Willard) and we bumped a little bit, but I was able to keep control.
“I know one thing, when this horse is feeling good, he’ll give you everything. He can compete with the good horses. You have to be lucky sometimes, sometimes they don’t like the turf much and they don’t try. Today, no rain, hard track, and he was very good today.
“The first turn I had a little trouble but after the second turn, I had a perfect trip.”
He’spuregold returned $4.00 to win as the favorite in the field of seven Jersey-bred 3-year-olds and up.
The victory was his 10th from 32 career starts, his ninth in 28 grass starts and his eighth win in 14 starts at Monmouth Park for owner-breeder John Bowers, Jr.
The $51,000 winner’s share pushed his career earnings to $687,170.
Breen said it was too soon to think about when or where He’spuregold would go next.
“I’m going to enjoy this. I’m not going to even think or worry about future plans with him,” he said.
