Rodman pulled out of the Kelso Handicap to take a shot in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park
Trainer Michael Hushion and owner Barry Schwartz redirected their 6-year-old horse, Rodman, from taking part in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap and contesting against the likes of Uncle Mo and Jackson Bend, to the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park
on 1 October.
The son of Malibu Moon, out of Crystal Gem by Affirmed, Rodman prior to running at Saratoga in his last start, has appeared twice at Belmont Park and both times finish on the money over its dirt track.
The Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap (Met Mile) winner Tizway has been scratched from the race before he came down with a fever a week before the race, and now the runner up of the Met Mile Rodman will take his place.
Run over a distance of 1 mile, Rodman was valiant in defeat as he stalked first and then decided to go all out in the end, but didn’t have enough ground to challenge Tizway as he cruised to victory, with the winning time of 1 minute and 32.90 seconds.
Next start at Belmont Park for Rodman was in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap on 2 July, 2011, at about 1 1/8 miles, but again he turned in a non threatening run in the grade 2 event and finished third behind Hymn Book and Flat Out.
Probably Rodman’s couple of good runs this year at Belmont Park influenced the decision to switch him back to a track which has at least given him finishes on the board this year.
However, it is not as simple as it looks, as trainer Michael Hushion admitted that due to Tizway’s defection from the race was part of the reason why they are sending Rodman there.
If Rodman doesn’t have distance limitations, then he can easily be in the lead in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
After a promising 2009 season, where he won the Grade 3 Queens Country Handicap by 5 ¾ lengths at about 1 3/16 miles, Rodman was bogged down in the 2010 season because of the injuries he sustained.
Even this year, Rodman hasn’t quite found his feet in five starts, turning in mixed performances but the Belmont Park special could be a stepping stone for Rodman to bow out of the season on a high.
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