Motorious used a late surge under jockey Antonio Fresu to narrowly prevail. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Motorious, exiting a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, used a late surge under jockey Antonio Fresu to narrowly prevail in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes going about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course Saturday.
Sent off the 4-5 favorite, Motorious settled comfortably in mid-pack as 68-1 longshot Code Duello sprinted down the hill and set fractions of 21.81 and 43.78 seconds for the opening half mile. Racing directly to the inside of Motorious throughout was Sumter, a 12-1 long shot ridden by Mike Smith.
After Code Duello reached the sixteenth pole in 1:06.07, he began to fade and Sumter and Motorious found themselves in a duel to the wire. Sumter appeared to have a slight advantage in the late going, but Motorious then dug in gamely and got past that rival to win by a head.
“He’s proved to be a very good horse sprinting and going down the hill,” said Fresu, who also rode Motorious in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. “Today, I tried to give him a really good warm up. He was kind of slow in the beginning and it was kind of hard to get into his rhythm. When I let him loose down the lane he just kept grinding and I thought he finished best.”
Irideo (16-1), ridden by Hector Berrios, finished another 1 ½ lengths back in third. Code Duello held on to complete the superfecta, which returned $125.60 for 10 cents.
Motorious, trained by Phil D’Amato, won in a final time of 1:11.86.
“I was very nervous,” D’Amato said. “Mike Smith slipped up on the inside and got the jump on us. It was a dog fight from there on out. Luckily, we prevailed.”
Motorious is owned by Anthony Fanticola. Bred in England, where he began his career, the 6-year-old gelding by Muhaarar improved to 21: 8-5-2 with $807,604 in earnings.
This was his fourth career stakes win. Prior to being beaten just a neck in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 2, Motorious won the GIII Green Flash for the second year in a row at Del Mar Aug. 31. He also won last year’s GIII San Simeon on the hillside turf course.
D’Amato said Motorious would now get a break and would likely return for a 7-year-old campaign in April or May.
“Antonio said he was nice and relaxed going into the gate and he thought maybe a little too relaxed,” said D’Amato.
“So, he broke him off away from the pony to get him on his toes and I think that was a smart move. Got him on his toes and in tactical position to get the job done.
“You have to be a really good horse to adapt to the different distances, he has a great turn of foot, and I think that older disposition that he’s had now has helped him in these victories.”
Motorious paid $3.80, $3.00 and $2.40. Sumter, trained by Richard Mandella, returned $8.40 and $6.60. Irideo, ridden by Hector Berrios for trainer Marcelo Polanco, paid $6.20.
“I was always confident in my horse, I know he had taken some time, but I know that he is going to get there. Phil’s done a great job with him,” added Fresu.Live racing at Santa Anita resumes Sunday with a nine-race card starting at 12 p.m PT.
