Don Perico wins after losing six in the Black Rock Purse at Santa Anita’s hillside turf course
The 5-year-old gelded son of In Excess, Don Perico, snapped a massive losing streak on when he posted his second career win on 2 February, 2012, at about six and a half furlongs against California Breds in the $59,750 Black Rock Purse over at Santa Anita’s
hillside turf course.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Dan Perico broke six race losing streak after a win in his maiden special weight race back in 2010 at about six furlongs on Del Mar, over the venue’s dirt course under jockey Rafael Bejarano.
Don Perico broke his maiden at second asking defeating Crestatorre in second and Real Lucky in third, covering the six furlong distance in 1 minute and 10.73 seconds.
Since then Donald J. Valpredo’s homebred has dwelled in allowance and allowance/optional claimers, and jockey Joel Rosario took over from Rafael Bejarano right after the maiden special weight race and rode the gelding throughout his drought.
However, the approach was different this time around from Joel Rosario, who sent his ride early into the lead in the six and a half furlong sprint.
It was Don Perico’s second try on the Santa Anita’s unique downhill turf course, as he gamely held on to his lead through and through to visit the winner’s circle after an absence of six straight loses.
It wasn’t all too easy for Don Perico as Starspangled Heat fast approached the leader in the stretch, but he held him off and defeated him by a length to cover the distance in 1 minute and 12.92 seconds.
Last time when he raced over the Santa Anita’s turf course he wound up fourth behind Starspangled Heat in third, Dance with Gabel in third and Cranky Jack notched the six and a half furlong race in 1 minute and 13 seconds flat.
“The last time he was a little green,” Rosario said. “He was looking around too much. Today, he was much more professional. I just let him go. Sometimes when horses are doing something for the first time like in his last race, they aren’t familiar with what
they are doing, so they look around too much.”
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