Thoroughbred ‘The Factor’ shines at the Pat O’Brien Stakes on Sunday, 29th August
After a four month sabbatical from thoroughbred racing, ‘The Factor’ gave a power packed performance in the Grade I Pat O’Brien Stakes on Sunday, 29th August.
His victory was something of a surprise for everybody since he had finished seventh in the last race he had competed in, earlier in April.
“I’d forgotten how good he was until the last few times I worked him from the gate”, said a beaming Bob Baffert, trainer of the thorough bred ‘The Factor’, after the race was over.
‘The Factor’ won prize money of $250,000 in this race at Del Mar.
The race was nip and tick between thoroughbreds, ‘Smiling Tiger’ and ‘The Factor’, for the first part of the race and later between ‘The Factor’ and ‘Camp Victory’ near the finish line.
Smiling Tiger took the lead in the beginning with 7/5 odds in his favour but The Factor smoothly wretched the lead from him and pursued the finish line single mindedly.
Near the finish line, Camp Victory tried to wrestle the lead from The Factor but failed miserably.
Crown of Thorn qualified for the third position in this race, followed by Smiling Tiger in his wake.
The Factor was being ridden by jockey Martin Garcia who guided him expertly across the race track in a minimal time, approximately one and a half minutes.
Trainer Bob Baffert says that the credit for wrestling the early lead from Smiling Tiger goes to jockey Marcia Gartia who did not panic for a single moment at the race course.
He knew what he wanted, how to get it and went for it with single minded determination.
The Factor has had an illustrious career with four victories to his name out of the six races that he has competed in.
Needless to say, The Factor is a valuable asset to owners, David Shimmon and George Bolton.
He has won prize money, summing up to $457,180 from all his victories.
The owners and the trainer of this talented thoroughbred have high hopes associated with him. His upcoming races include The Breeders' Cup Sprint and Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, later this year in November, and The Factor would surely bring pride for
all from his performances.
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