When coach Ben Colebrook stated he can be at Aqueduct to saddle Increase Cain within the $300,000 Gotham Stakes, he wasn’t kidding.
Colebrook did certainly saddle the son of Violence within the March 4 one-turn mile stakes for 3-year-olds, however that was it. Instantly afterward, because the horses headed to the racetrack, he sprinted out of the Huge A. He hopped right into a ready cab for a fast drive to close by Kennedy Airport for a flight to the Midwest to saddle Scoobie Quando later that night time within the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park.
In fact, whereas he was doing all that, one of many weirdest Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve preps of the yr unfolded as an enormous area of 14 battled over a sealed, muddy observe and regardless of the impediment of a free horse on the lead within the stretch and some adventurous journeys, Andrew and Rania Warren’s Increase Cain took cost within the stretch and posted a lopsided 7 1/2-length victory over Slip Mahoney — as a hurried however overjoyed Colebrook watched the 23.50-1 upset from his cellular phone within the cab.
“It was a hit-and-run, my man,” Colebrook stated by telephone whereas exiting the automobile.
The victory was the second in six begins for the bay colt and got here on the heels of a fifth within the Leonatus Stakes on the artificial Tapeta Footings floor at Turfway Park and a second earlier than that within the Gun Runner Stakes at Honest Grounds.
“It was a big-time race,” Colebrook stated concerning the bay colt out of the Lemon Drop Child mare Lemon Belle bred in Kentucky by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds. “He all the time acted like he had it in him, however he by no means had the suitable setup. And man, what a journey [by Jose Lezcano]. It was poetry in movement.”
At a one-turn mile distance in early March, the Gotham is the shortest of the remaining run for the roses preps, but it offered Increase Cain with 50 qualifying factors to guarantee him of a spot within the area for the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
“You must think about him,” Colebrook stated concerning the Could 6 Kentucky Derby, “as a result of distance shouldn’t be an issue. He’s so laid again. He’s getting, higher and higher. He’ll come house to Kentucky and we’ll take into consideration the Wooden [Memorial Stakes April 8 at Aqueduct] or Blue Grass [Stakes April 8 at Keeneland].”
The complexion of the Gotham modified shortly after the break when Howgreatisnate stumbled and jockey J. D. Acosta fell off. Each horse and jockey got here away from the mishap effective because the riderless Howgreatisnate gave chase from the surface and reached the entrance as the sector entered the ultimate flip, creating an issue for Eric Cancel on the early chief, Carmel Street.
“The free horse made my horse go quicker than I wished,” stated Cancel, whose horse pale to eighth because the 9-2 second alternative.
The journey was comparatively smoother for Lezcano and Increase Cain. Although they checked off heels whereas shifting up alongside the within approaching the quarter pole within the overflow area, Lezcano guided Increase Cain out a number of paths and he motored previous everybody together with the free horse, who was second underneath the wire.
Increase Cain, purchased for $180,000 from the Warrendale Gross sales consignment on the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale, lined the mile in 1:38.09 and paid $49 for a $2 win guess.
Gold Sq.’s Slip Mahoney, who was making his stakes debut for coach Brad Cox off a maiden win, will probably return for the 1 1/8-mile Wooden Memorial, which is not going to be an enormous ask for the son of Arrogate after he may need traveled 1 1/8 miles whereas breaking slowly and shedding an acre of floor in rallying nine-wide from thirteenth.
“I don’t assume he’ll have any downside stretching out after this,” stated Joe Hardoon, racing supervisor for proprietor Al Gold. “I can’t complain about the way in which he closed after operating so vast.”
Slip Mahoney obtained 20 factors.
Seacrest Thoroughbreds of N. E.’s New York-bred Basic Banker was 1 1/2 lengths again within the third, giving a him a trio of third-place finishes in New York’s three Kentucky Derby preps. Skilled by Jimmy Ferraro, the son of Central Banker picked up 15 factors and now has 24.
Eyeing Clover, the three.15-1 favourite, was fourth (10 factors), adopted by Clear the Air (5 factors).
