Richard’s Kid emerges successful from the Grade 3, $100,000 Cougar II Handicap
The Bob Baffert trained, Richard’s Kid, was a sight to see on 27th July, 2012, when he bolted through the 1 ½ mile track in the Grade 3, $100,000 Cougar II Handicap, which was hosted at Del Mar.
Ridden by jockey Rafael Bejarano, the runner went home $60,000 richer when he finished 1 ½ lengths ahead of the Michael Machowsky trained, Worth Repeating, while the third place was secured by Balladry, who fell 1 ¼ lengths after the runner-up.
The son of Lemon Drop Kid, out of mare Tough Broad, was at the back of the pack, and conserved his energy for the closing stages of the race.
The pace of the race was set by Fly Lexis Fly, who managed to make it to the front and completed the first half-mile in 49.09 seconds.
The front-runner was followed by, Dynamic Host, whereas Worth Repeating finished in third place. Worth Repeating, mounted by jockey, Mike Smith managed to take the lead after a mile which he completed in 1 minute and 38.95 seconds.
Richard’s Kid caught up and did most of the work in the final furlong. He speedily overtook the other runners and, completed the race in 2 minutes and 29.22 seconds.
The seven-year-old finally got the glory he was trying to achieve for the past few years in the Cougar II Handicap.
In 2009, he was teamed with rider Victor Espinoza in this event, and finished as a runner-up to the Barry Abrams trained, Unusual Suspect.
In 2010, he got a placed finish in third to winner, Temple City and runner-up, Unusual Suspect.
With this victory, the Zabeel Racing International owned runner dethroned Bourbon Bay, who claimed the victory last year, when he defeated the New Zealand-bred, Dahoud.
Now, Maryland bred runner holds an overall record of 11-3-7 in 35 career starts with earnings of $1,986,360.
The older division runner is doing pretty well this season, since he finished second to his stable-mate, Game On Dude, in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at the Betfair Hollywood Park over a distance of 1 1/4 miles.
Tags: