Mr. Commons’ late run proved to be too much for the Sir Beaufort’s lineup
John Shirreffs trained, Mr. Commons, was sent off as the 11 to 10 favourite in the Grade 2 $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes, and the 3-year-old colt did not disappoint as he took on a eight horse field with a spectacular move down the stretch to post a convincing
victory of 3 ¼ lengths.
Over a distance of 1 mile on turf at Santa Anita Park on 26 December, 2011, Mr. Commons under jockey Mike Smith broke well out of the gate, but was immediately dropped far back, as Comma to the Top jumped into the lead under Joe Talamo.
Mike Pender trained, Ultimate Eagle, showed some early pace as well, as he tracked Comma to the Top in the early fractions. The pace in the beginning was moderate and Comma to the Top showed no urgency to pull away from the lot.
He set mild fractions of 22.75 seconds for the opening quarter mile and went half a mile in 45.47 seconds and went past the sic furlong marker in the mile long race in 1 minute and 9.22 seconds.
After the six furlong mark, the field closed in on Comma to the Top, as they went seven furlongs in 1 minute and 21.71 seconds and suddenly the field got all the more crowded, but that gave Mr. Commons to give his all which he had been saving for the right
time.
There was not much space to go around, but jockey Mike Smith found a narrow hole to kick on, and he did so with confidence knowing his ride would respond. Mr. Commons dropped down to the rail and found another gear to cover the 1 mile distance in 1 minute
and 33.84 seconds.
“Since I got through it was great,” Smith said. “I’ve learned that you can point this horse at a wall and he’ll run through it if I ask him to. He really does everything you tell him so normally when you’re that big of a favorite you’ll probably go around
but I was going to be able to cut the corner and make up three lengths. All I need is a very small seam with him.”
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