To Honor and Serve destroys his competition at Saratoga in an Optional Claimer
To Honor and Serve made a winning comeback at Saratoga on 26 August, 2011, taking the Saratoga Optional Claimer by a dominating 8 ¼ lengths.
It was a huge statement made by William Mott trained 3-year-old colt, especially after his dull return in the Grade 2 Amsterdam where he rolled in a disappointing 6th position as Caleb’s Posse won the $150,000 at Saratoga.
However, William Mott was seeking to bring To Honor and Serve back into form after he fell away in his last race and a soft spot was required before the all important Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby on 25 September, 2011.
The Hall of Fame trainer William Mott, chose Live Oak Plantation to send his representative out and get his confidence back by getting him back to winning ways.
To Honor and Serve responded in positive manner, but had an interesting dual with the long shot Regal Warrior at a crucial point in the race.
Sent through from the inside, Regal Warrior disputed the pace with the son of Bernardini.
Both runners made splits of half mile in 23.20 seconds, three quarters in 46.27 seconds and 1 minute and 10.30 seconds.
Ridden by jockey John Velazquez, To Honor and Serve put away his pace challenger away to find a new and fresh challenger in Slevin.
The jockey put To Honor and Serve to a drive and the eventual winner widened his advantage after every stride to complete the distance in 1 minute and 48.31 seconds.
At one point trainer William Mott thought that his 3-year-old colt To Honor and Serve is a Grade 1 Travers horse, but soon realized otherwise when the timing of it didn’t work out.
It was a mature performance from To Honor and Serve, who gained his and as well as his trainer’s confidence in him, who was happy to see him get back on the racing track.
It was a mature performance for two reasons, first that he broke off well and relaxed well down the backside, and secondly he saw a horse take the lead from him and even the he didn’t try to run him off, and gradually got cut from the pack and away to a
8 ¼ length victory.
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