LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jim and Donna Daniell’s Rushie overtook dueling leaders Vertical Threat and Tap It to Win with a three-wide move at the head of the stretch and cruised to a 1 ¾-length victory over Sonneman to win the 96th running of the $500,000 Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU (GII) for 3-year-olds.
Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Javier Castellano, Rushie covered the mile on the fast main track in 1:34.41. Rushie raced three wide and in the clear in the run down the backstretch through fractions of :23.14 and :46.22.
“Part of me wanted to go with the Derby. The horse was training well all along but I can’t thank the owners enough for supporting me. We ended up in the Pat Day Mile and were rewarded with a great effort. Hopefully this race sets us up for a solid fall campaign,” McCarthy said.
“I’m not sure which way we go from here. It’s been a long day and a tough day yesterday in the Oaks (with Speech) so we’re just going to savor this one and see what happens down the road.”
Castellano began to move on the far turn and quickly took command in the stretch. The victory, the first stakes triumph for Rushie, was worth $303,800 and increased his career bankroll to $493,151 with a record of 7-3-1-2.
“I had the perfect trip. I was outside and took advantage of it. The way the race developed it was perfect, it was what I was looking for today. We sat two or three lengths off the pace and I kept track of those horses. When we turned for home, I asked him and the horse responded so well. I think the mile was perfect today for the horse. I’m glad we got it done,” jockey Castellano recounted.
Rushie paid $7.80, $4.40 and $3. Sonneman, ridden by Manny Franco, returned $16 and $6.40 and finished a half-length in front of Tap It to Win who paid $3.20 to show under John Velazquez. It was another 1 ¼ lengths back to Shashashakemeup who was followed in order by Echo Town, Vertical Threatand Digital.
“I’m really happy with the way he finished. Steve (Asmussen) has done a great job with him. I’m just happy with second. It changed the race (with the scratches of Cezanne and No Parole) because we thought there was going to be more pace in front. With the scratches, it wasn’t too fast early,” Franco remarked.
Steve Asmussen, trainer of runner-up Sonneman and fifth-place finisher Echo Town, said the race didn’t set up the way either of his horses needed. “Echo Town was kind of boxed in there, and then going too slow and then held up. Not ideal for him.
“Sonneman had trained really well and deserved the chance. But he’d have benefited from more pace as well. I think the two scratches really distorted the race,” he offered.
John Velazquez who rode Tap It to Win to third remarked “I thought he ran really well. I was hoping he held on for second but that’s all he gave me. I was sitting perfect. I know the horse inside (Vertical Threat) had a little bit of speed so I could concede off him. He sat well, really nice and eventually when they came to me at the three-eighths pole I tried to hurry up and tried to keep my head in front of the other horse (Rushie) but he had too much horse.”
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Photo: Rushie with Javier Castellano up. Credit: Churchill Downs/Coglianese Photos
