Flat Out wins the 2011 Suburban Handicap
Flat Out wins the 2011 Suburban Handicap
July 2, 2011
The $300,000 Suburban Handicap (G2) was the feature race at Belmont Park on the Saturday of Independence Day weekend. A field of 6 older horses went to post before 6,441 fans in this 1 1/8 mile main track feature under sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 80's. Irish Tower Stakes winner Rodman was sent off as the even-money favorite off a second place finish in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
In to challenge him included 5-2 second choice Hymn Book, winner of the Three Coins Up Stakes last out, and 7-1 third choice Convocation, third in the Easy Goer after finishing second in the Westchester (G3).
Jockey Javier Castellano sent Rodman to the lead exiting the chute and he set easy fractions of 23.95, 47.02, and 1:10.65 over the fast track while being stalked by 8-1 Colizeo a length behind. Entering the stretch, 13-1 longest shot Flat Out, fifth early, came out wide and took over the lead at the 3/16 pole through 1 mile in 1:34.65. Hymn Book, 3rd early, tried to close but Flat Out drew off in the final furlong to an impressive 6 1/2 length win in 1:46.64. It was just a length back from Hymn Book to favorite Rodman third.
Results chart from DRF
Flat Out in the winner's circle
Winning owner Jack Preston said, "He beat some good horses today. We won the Belmont Stakes with Victory Gallop; this is only the second time we've taken money from Belmont Park back to Texas. We've had faith in him the whole time; he's just had problems, one after the other. He's a super horse and we found out today how good he is."
Trainer Charles Dickey added, "Today, he was laying perfect. The way he closed, that's him.
He's just a super horse. He suffered from a couple of quarter-cracks. We gave him time, and waited on him, and today, he's paid us back. We've done everything we can right for him and he's responding real well and running good. I've tried to think of several reasons why he didn't run his normal race last time. He came out of it fine and he's better off running than standing in his stall. We'll talk it over and decide where we want to go. Our goal is to try and run in the Breeders' Cup."
Flat Out in the post parade
Jockey Alex Solis said, "The other morning I went to get on him and I took him around there and he was having so much fun on the track. I told Mr. Dickey, 'This horse, he might run big because he really enjoys this track, the long turns and sandy footing.' He loves it, and he proved that today."
Second place finisher Hymn Book
Trainer Shug McGaughey said, "I thought he ran fine. Johnny (Velazquez) said he ran hard. At the 3/8 pole we had a lot of horse and they were picking it up, and then we just ran into a buzzsaw. We have options, turf or dirt."
Third place finisher and beaten favorite Rodman
Even-money favorite Rodman set the early pace under jockey Javier Castellano, then tired late to finish third beaten 7 1/2 lengths. The Mike Hushion trainee improved his record to 6 wins, 4 seconds, and 1 third in 16 starts, earning $376,152 for owner Barry K. Schwartz.
Dominus wins the 2011 Dwyer Stakes
The $150,000 Dwyer Stakes (G2) featured 3-year-old going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Jerome Stakes (G2) winner Adios Charlie was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in he field of 6 off a close second in the Peter Pan (G2) last out. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Dominus, runner-up in the Derby Trial (G3), and 9-2 third choice Cool Blue Red Hot, making his stakes debut after an allowance win over the same distance last out.
Jockey Julien Leparoux sent Dominus to the lead down the backstretch and he set fractions of 24.28, 47.86, and 1:11.76 over the fast track while as many as 1 1/2 lengths in front of Adios Charlie stalking him second. Entering the stretch, Dominus pulled away from the favorite, opening up by 3 lengths in mid-stretch. Adios Charlie attempted to close but Dominus cruised under the line 1 3/4 lengths ahead in 1:41.74. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to late-running Cool Blue Red Hot third.
Results chart from DRF
Dominus in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen said, "It was a very gratifying win for the whole team. He's a special horse. Hopefully this is just a stepping stone to big things. We had planned on running him a couple of weeks ago, but had a little issue with a foot and missed some time. He stepped up today. It was a nice field, and he'll ship from here to Saratoga the next day or two. Obviously, with the 3-year-old races that are left, we think we are in good shape.
It's an extremely wide-open year."
Co-owner George Bolton added, "It was nice for him to have a break-through race. He's only had 4 races and he's always shown such potential. My hunch is that he'll go to either the Jim Dandy or the Haskell."
Jockey Julien Leparoux said, "Very nice. Looking on paper, it seemed like we were going to have some speed in there. I thought maybe we would sit behind it, but they kind of left me alone the first part and he relaxed well for me and finished up very nice. He's a very nice horse."
Second place finisher Adios Charlie
Trainer Stanley Hough said, "He ran his race; I don't see any excuses. I thought the winner ran great. We'll see how he comes out of this race and figure out where to go from here. There are so many opportunities for 3-year-olds."
Jockey Rajiv Maragh added, "I thought he ran great. I tried to keep him in close proximity the whole way. He tried hard."
Trainer Angel Penna Jr. said, "I'm very pleased with the race; he was the only one who made a move. This horse still has not yet reached his top." Jockey John Velazquez added, "He ran well. He was the only horse who was closing."
Kicking off the stakes action on Saturday was the $60,000 Recording Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course. 4-1 Triune had an uncontested lead of 2 1/2 lengths through slow fractions of 25.37, 49.64, and 1:14.16 while being stalked by 8-1 Skating. Entering the lane, the two front-runners tired as 15-1 My Redbyrd inherited a short lead in mid-stretch. 7-1 Hungry Island, last early, closed with a rush to win going away by 3 lengths in 1:43.59 over firm turf.
It was just a length back from My Redbyrd to 6-1 Parting Words third, while 5-2 favorite Celestial Kitten was fourth.
Results chart from DRF
July 2, 2011
The $300,000 Suburban Handicap (G2) was the feature race at Belmont Park on the Saturday of Independence Day weekend. A field of 6 older horses went to post before 6,441 fans in this 1 1/8 mile main track feature under sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 80's. Irish Tower Stakes winner Rodman was sent off as the even-money favorite off a second place finish in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
In to challenge him included 5-2 second choice Hymn Book, winner of the Three Coins Up Stakes last out, and 7-1 third choice Convocation, third in the Easy Goer after finishing second in the Westchester (G3).
Jockey Javier Castellano sent Rodman to the lead exiting the chute and he set easy fractions of 23.95, 47.02, and 1:10.65 over the fast track while being stalked by 8-1 Colizeo a length behind. Entering the stretch, 13-1 longest shot Flat Out, fifth early, came out wide and took over the lead at the 3/16 pole through 1 mile in 1:34.65. Hymn Book, 3rd early, tried to close but Flat Out drew off in the final furlong to an impressive 6 1/2 length win in 1:46.64. It was just a length back from Hymn Book to favorite Rodman third.
Results chart from DRF
Flat Out in the winner's circle
Winning owner Jack Preston said, "He beat some good horses today. We won the Belmont Stakes with Victory Gallop; this is only the second time we've taken money from Belmont Park back to Texas. We've had faith in him the whole time; he's just had problems, one after the other. He's a super horse and we found out today how good he is."
Trainer Charles Dickey added, "Today, he was laying perfect. The way he closed, that's him.
He's just a super horse. He suffered from a couple of quarter-cracks. We gave him time, and waited on him, and today, he's paid us back. We've done everything we can right for him and he's responding real well and running good. I've tried to think of several reasons why he didn't run his normal race last time. He came out of it fine and he's better off running than standing in his stall. We'll talk it over and decide where we want to go. Our goal is to try and run in the Breeders' Cup."
Flat Out in the post parade
Jockey Alex Solis said, "The other morning I went to get on him and I took him around there and he was having so much fun on the track. I told Mr. Dickey, 'This horse, he might run big because he really enjoys this track, the long turns and sandy footing.' He loves it, and he proved that today."
Second place finisher Hymn Book
Trainer Shug McGaughey said, "I thought he ran fine. Johnny (Velazquez) said he ran hard. At the 3/8 pole we had a lot of horse and they were picking it up, and then we just ran into a buzzsaw. We have options, turf or dirt."
Third place finisher and beaten favorite Rodman
Even-money favorite Rodman set the early pace under jockey Javier Castellano, then tired late to finish third beaten 7 1/2 lengths. The Mike Hushion trainee improved his record to 6 wins, 4 seconds, and 1 third in 16 starts, earning $376,152 for owner Barry K. Schwartz.
Dominus wins the 2011 Dwyer Stakes
The $150,000 Dwyer Stakes (G2) featured 3-year-old going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Jerome Stakes (G2) winner Adios Charlie was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in he field of 6 off a close second in the Peter Pan (G2) last out. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Dominus, runner-up in the Derby Trial (G3), and 9-2 third choice Cool Blue Red Hot, making his stakes debut after an allowance win over the same distance last out.
Jockey Julien Leparoux sent Dominus to the lead down the backstretch and he set fractions of 24.28, 47.86, and 1:11.76 over the fast track while as many as 1 1/2 lengths in front of Adios Charlie stalking him second. Entering the stretch, Dominus pulled away from the favorite, opening up by 3 lengths in mid-stretch. Adios Charlie attempted to close but Dominus cruised under the line 1 3/4 lengths ahead in 1:41.74. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to late-running Cool Blue Red Hot third.
Results chart from DRF
Dominus in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen said, "It was a very gratifying win for the whole team. He's a special horse. Hopefully this is just a stepping stone to big things. We had planned on running him a couple of weeks ago, but had a little issue with a foot and missed some time. He stepped up today. It was a nice field, and he'll ship from here to Saratoga the next day or two. Obviously, with the 3-year-old races that are left, we think we are in good shape.
It's an extremely wide-open year."
Co-owner George Bolton added, "It was nice for him to have a break-through race. He's only had 4 races and he's always shown such potential. My hunch is that he'll go to either the Jim Dandy or the Haskell."
Jockey Julien Leparoux said, "Very nice. Looking on paper, it seemed like we were going to have some speed in there. I thought maybe we would sit behind it, but they kind of left me alone the first part and he relaxed well for me and finished up very nice. He's a very nice horse."
Second place finisher Adios Charlie
Trainer Stanley Hough said, "He ran his race; I don't see any excuses. I thought the winner ran great. We'll see how he comes out of this race and figure out where to go from here. There are so many opportunities for 3-year-olds."
Jockey Rajiv Maragh added, "I thought he ran great. I tried to keep him in close proximity the whole way. He tried hard."
Trainer Angel Penna Jr. said, "I'm very pleased with the race; he was the only one who made a move. This horse still has not yet reached his top." Jockey John Velazquez added, "He ran well. He was the only horse who was closing."
Kicking off the stakes action on Saturday was the $60,000 Recording Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course. 4-1 Triune had an uncontested lead of 2 1/2 lengths through slow fractions of 25.37, 49.64, and 1:14.16 while being stalked by 8-1 Skating. Entering the lane, the two front-runners tired as 15-1 My Redbyrd inherited a short lead in mid-stretch. 7-1 Hungry Island, last early, closed with a rush to win going away by 3 lengths in 1:43.59 over firm turf.
It was just a length back from My Redbyrd to 6-1 Parting Words third, while 5-2 favorite Celestial Kitten was fourth.
Results chart from DRF
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