Longshot Poseidon's Warrior crushes favourite Shackleford in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap
Looks like the Dale Romans trained, Shackleford, found his match, the sloppy muddy track at Saratoga in the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on 5th August, 2012.
On a 2 race win streak prior to the Vanderbilt Handicap, Shackleford completed the order of finish, as Poseidon's Warrior sent shockwaves across the New York based historical race course.
Shackleford is not cut out for the six furlong distance and the handler blames the mud-surface as he said:
“I didn’t expect him to run like that, but he’s 0-for-3 in the mud."
The Robert Reid trained, Poseidon's Warrior, had a particularly good day as he completed the race in 1 minute and 09.40 seconds.
The winner finished a neck before Justin Phillip, who was ridden by Ramon Dominguez, while the third place was landed by Emcee, with Alan Garcia aboard - another neck behind.
Poseidon's Warrior settled in third, as the pace of the race was set by Rothko, followed by Emcee.
Rothko completed the opening quarter-mile with lightning pace, and clocked it in 21.99 seconds, and half-mile in 44.61 seconds.
Poseidon's Warrior made a move in the closing stages of the race, and turned out to be unstoppable. The winning rider commented on the outcome and strategy of the race as he said:
"There were two horses fighting on the lead. I just waited and was patient. When I turned for home I asked my horse and he had something. I tried to do my best in the stretch, and he just kept going.”
This was the first graded victory for the son of Speightstown, out of mare Poised to Pounce, who now has an overall record of 7-2-2 in 17 starts, and collective earnings of $634,337.
Things seem to be going well for jockey, Irad Ortiz as well, since this was his second Grade 1 victory in this year’s Spa meet.
He landed the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on 21st July, 2012 with the Kiaran P. McLaughlin trained, Questing.
The duo completed the 1 1/8 mile race in an impressive time of 1 minute and 50.30 seconds, while Zo Impressive finished second and the third place was taken by Todd Pletcher’s charge, In Lingerie.
Tags: