Blame takes the Whitney Handicap Invitational
The 2010 Whitney Handicap Invitational was held over the weekend at Saratoga Racecourse. Six older horses took part in the prestigious Grade 1 race on Saturday August 7th for $750,000. Going into its 83rd edition, Todd Pletcher-trained Quality Road was the favourite. But Blame, trained by Al Stall, beat out the favourite to take his fifth consecutive win, following a recent Grade 1 win at Churchill Downs and a win last year at Saratoga.
Winning against Quality Road, one of the fastest horses in the world, has placed Blame firmly into the winners circle, and the horse will surely be facing the likes of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta in the future, winning fillies that are in for a difficult competition against the determination and speed that Blame has proven in his Whitney performance. The winning horse, owned by Adele Dilschneider and Clairbourne Farm, now has a record of eight wins in eleven career starts, and a value of 1.5 million dollars in prize money made. His owners certainly have a long career in mind for him.
Blame was ridden by Garrett Gomez in the 2010 Whitney Handicap Invitational, who played the strategy just right. Quality Road had the apparent lead early in the race, while Gomez was patiently sitting on Blame’s reserves. Pletcher watched from the sidelines as the horses moved into the stretch and the shape of the race began to change.
John Velazquez, riding Quality Road, glanced over the shoulder to see Blame’s momentum outpacing that of Quality Road as Gomez bore the horse down on him. With the strategy played so well by Gomez, and with Blame’s speed and experience to know what was expected of him, it quickly became clear that the favourite was outmatched by the Al Stall-trained horse.
"We gave him a tremendous break during the winter, we let him mature, let his pedigree take over, let him develop on his own, brought him back meticulously,” said Stall before the race. "Here's his third time back off an extended layoff, we feel like we're ready. It's time to catch the best horse in the country when we're at the top of our game also."
Blame, who never once had to be hit by the jockey, looked as if he ran his race effortlessly. Gomez, who clearly has a good relationship with the horse, hopes someday to ride Blame in the Breeder’s Cup. Now proven as a contender of the best horse in the country, Blame’s future looks long.
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