Mr Gruff tucked away Ain’t No Other to win the Joe Hernandez at Santa Anita Park’s turf course
The 8-year-old gelding, Mr Gruff, trained by Ronald W. Ellis scored again at the unique hillside course of Santa Anita in the 5th running of the $79,880 Joe Hernandez Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs, and it was his typical front-running style win and
like clockwork, the bay gelding in his customary style landed past the finish line in first place.
It wasn’t as easier ride as it sounds, because the much determined, Ain’t no Other, was on his tail throughout the sprint, but the winner’s affinity to the unique downhill grass layout was too much for Ain’t no Other, and the pursuer was just not aware of
the fact that how many wins the leader has amassed over this course during his career.
The Kentucky bred son of Mr. Greeley, out of mare Ruff by Clever Trick, Mr. Gruff has gone on to race 13 times in his career, and out of his seven career wins it was only once that he posted a victory outside the Santa Anita Park’s turf course.
He is that good there, and after exiting a third place finish in the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at about six and a half furlongs to winner, Caracortado, on 8 January, 2012, he was bound to bounce back from his defeat on his favourite track and post a typical
runaway victory.
However, Ain’t No Other wasn’t fazed when Mr Gruff kicked away at the head of the lane, and opened up a comfortable lead of one and a half lengths. The runner-up put his head down and just ran, and with sheer determination kept to his task until the wire,
and finished a strong second on the day.
Under Joel Rosario, Mr Gruff packed a mean punch and turned in with the final time of 1 minute and 12.06 seconds, while Martin Garcia coupled with Ain’t No Other a disappointing second by 1 ¼ lengths margin.
“I was a little too quick with this horse last time and he got tired,” said Rosario. “He was more relaxed today. I got just a little bit of pressure on the outside and inside, but he handled it very well. He’s such a nice horse, and I think he can do anything.”
“This horse just loves running down the hill,” commented Ron Ellis, who trains Mr Gruff for Gary S. Broad. “He’s just a classy horse and I’ve got to love him because I bought him as a yearling.”
Tags: