Hudson Steele started the season with a win in the Dixie Stakes
Roger Weiss’ Hudson Steele ruined his chances of posting his first ever hat-trick when he lost by a whisker to, Straight Story, in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park on 7 May, 2011. But he is back again to give himself a second chance at it this
year.
Todd Pletcher trained 5-year-old gelding returned to racing after a long layoff, and straight away reminded everyone how good he is, and at Pimlico Race Course he tracked the pace early on, but changed gears at the eighth pole when he stormed to the lead
and kept everyone at bay until the wire to win the Grade 2, $300,000 Dixie Stakes on 19 May, 2012.
Alan E. Goldberg trained Straight Story was again in the mix under jockey Ramon Dominguez, and as expected the runner darted out of the stall and assumed the lead early on.
The splits were mild that kept all calm and easy at the back, as Straight Story topped the opening quarter mile in 24 seconds flat and went past the half mile marker in 47.77 seconds.
In a field of 11 horses, Javier Castellano and Hudson Steele tracked the pace in fourth while Trend and Boxeur des Rues were in front of him.
As Straight Story cleared 6 furlongs out of the way in 1 minute and 12.06 seconds, rounding off the bend in the 1 1/8 mile turf race, the field bunched together, giving out a feel that it is anybody’s race, but it was Hudson Steele, who sent a shock wave
across the race course with his agility as he spurted away to lead the pack.
At the eighth pole, the Johannesburg colt was clear several lengths, and downed the late approaching Humble and Hungry by 2 ½ lengths, covering the distance in 1 minute and 47.29 seconds.
“He was loaded up the whole way," Pletcher said. "Javy found a seam at the top of the stretch and he responded and fired. It was a real big effort.”
“He traveled so good," Castellano said. "The pace was pretty good for him. It worked out perfectly because he was ready to move when I wanted. He exploded. It was amazing. He was so strong. I really liked the way he did it.”
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