R Heisman. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
DMTC Release
DEL MAR, Calif.—Gary Barber’s R Heisman, the favorite in a field of nine California-bred 2-year-olds, saved ground early through fast splits, found a hole between horses nearing the 3/16ths pole, then wore down leader Case Hit in the lane to score a three-quarter length victory in the 73rd edition of the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar Friday evening.
The race carried a purse of $101,500 and paid the winner $57,000 for his score. With his share of the purse, R Heisman increased his career earnings to $115,200. He now shows two wins and two seconds after four starts.
The track’s leading rider, Juan Hernandez, rode the winner for trainer Peter Miller.
Owner Barber also owns a piece of Case Hit, who is also trained by Miller.
Finishing third was C T R Stables’ I’m a Bad Boy.
R Heisman, a son of the Blame stallion Far From Over, covered the five and a half furlong distance in 1:04.08 and paid his backers $4.60 for each $2 wagered.
Racing is on again at Del Mar Saturday with a stakes doubleheader of the Grade II Yellow Ribbon Handicap and the Grade III Sorrento Stakes topping the card. First post is at 2 p.m.
JUAN HERNANDEZ (R Heisman, winner) – “He broke really nice! We are trying to settle him down; he is aggressive out of the gate. On paper he has a lot of speed, so I didn’t want to go head-to-head with the pace setters. But he relaxed pretty well, I let the leaders go and I sat right behind them, saving ground along the rail. I waited for the horse ahead of me to advance a little bit, and then I swung around the outside and my horse did the rest.”
The stakes win was the second of the meet for Hernandez and his second (The Big Wam, 2022) in the Graduation. He now has 46 stakes wins at Del Mar.
PETER MILLER (R Heisman, winner) – “I thought Case Hit might have had it, but R Heisman never gave up. They’re both really talented Cal-breds. I’m just very thankful to Mr. Barber for giving me the opportunity to train them. They all fired and ran very well. I’m proud of all three of the horses (He also saddled fifth-place finisher Last Call Zondlo). It’s too bad one of them has to lose. I told the jocks ‘dead heat’”.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Miller and his first in the Graduation. He now has 48 stakes wins at Del Mar.
