Rousing Sermon to return home and go against statebreds in the California Cup Classic
Jerry Hollendorfer trained 3-year-old colt, Rousing Sermon, has been away from the winner’s circle for far too long, and once expected to be right up there with the top of the line 3-year-old division, Rousing Sermon has somewhat faded away with his lackluster
runs, and sometimes his inability to finish off races even after all the hard work.
He has been consistent enough to hit the board every now and then, but his end product has let many down, especially his connections, who were of the impression that their colt is right up there with the Kentucky Derby contenders earlier this year.
Though, it wasn’t a bad performance when he finished eighth in the Derby in a field of 20 strong contenders, but Rousing Sermon never ignited that spark, and the fans and racegoers couldn’t just see that ‘wow’ factor in him.
Haven’t won a single race in 9 consecutive races, Rousing Sermon is going to get some relief when he comes back home to go against statebreds in the $175,000 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.
The Cal-bred son of Lucky Pulpit has been racing all over the country, making three trips for major stakes races in the East and Midwest, it will certainly be a relief to finally comeback home and re-write the script with a fresh start.
Rousing Sermon’s last victory also came at Santa Anita Park, but it was when he was a juvenile making his fourth start in the California Cup Juvenile, statebreds again, and might turn out to be a lucky thing for him.
“He’s been consistent,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “He hasn’t won, but we’ve run him in some pretty tough spots.”
Tree Top Ranches’ Rousing Sermon is coming off a fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Super Derby to winner, Bourbon Courage at Louisiana Downs under jockey Mike Smith.
He was stretched out in distance to 1 1/8 miles in the Super Derby, after a seven furlong Real Good Deal Stakes over the all-weather track at Del Mar. He finished second the day.
“We thought we were home free and got nailed at the wire,” Hollendorfer said.
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