G1 Hopeful: Strong Mandate Dominates
Sept 2, 2013 17:00:04 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Sept 2, 2013 17:00:04 GMT -5
Wonder how long before the smartass cracks about Ortiz? Wait - already posted LOL
Strong Mandate Dominates in Muddy Hopeful
By Claire Novak
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Robert Baker and William Mack's Strong Mandate turned in a dominant performance in the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, winning by 9 3/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas on the renowned horseman's 78th birthday Sept. 2 at the Spa.
The juvenile Tiznow colt made a strong move from third coming down off the turn and galloped clear through seven furlongs on a muddy track in 1:23.55, geared down in the final sixteenth by jockey Jose Ortiz as he staged an upset at 7-1.
Saratoga Special (gr. II) winner and 7-2 favorite Corfu showed good speed to set the pace under pressure from Sanford (gr. II) winner Wired Bryan, but Strong Mandate loomed a menancing presence after a quarter in :22.47 and a half in :45.15.
The winner made a bid at the five-sixteenths pole and quickly moved clear after turning into the stretch. Although he drifted out a path or two when given a crack of the left-handed stick, he straightened away when the rider switched back to the right-hand for a final tap at the eighth pole, then powered further away in a big performance to the line.
Casiguapo was second while Lunarwarfare finished third. Big Sugar Soda, Wired Bryan, Long On Value, All in Blue, King Cyrus, Corfu, and Southern Blessing completed the order of finish.
Strong Mandate paid $16.60, $9.50, and $6.40, Casiguapo brought $24.40 and $10.40 at 30-1, and Lunarwarfare returned $5.40 to show.
It was a sixth Hopeful victory for Lukas, who last won with Dublin in 2009. "The Coach" has been enjoying a strong resurgence in 2013; he won the Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (gr. I) with Will Take Charge and took the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) with Oxbow, who also ran second in the Belmont (gr. I).
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr out of the grade I-winning Deputy Minister mare Clear Mandate, Strong Mandate was a $200,000 purchase at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by Lane's End.
He came off an Aug. 17 4 1/2-length maiden score going 6 1/2 furlongs in his second start, with the Hopeful victory improving his record to two wins from three outings, good for earnings of $230,400.
Strong Mandate Dominates in Muddy Hopeful
By Claire Novak
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Robert Baker and William Mack's Strong Mandate turned in a dominant performance in the $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course, winning by 9 3/4 lengths for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas on the renowned horseman's 78th birthday Sept. 2 at the Spa.
The juvenile Tiznow colt made a strong move from third coming down off the turn and galloped clear through seven furlongs on a muddy track in 1:23.55, geared down in the final sixteenth by jockey Jose Ortiz as he staged an upset at 7-1.
Saratoga Special (gr. II) winner and 7-2 favorite Corfu showed good speed to set the pace under pressure from Sanford (gr. II) winner Wired Bryan, but Strong Mandate loomed a menancing presence after a quarter in :22.47 and a half in :45.15.
The winner made a bid at the five-sixteenths pole and quickly moved clear after turning into the stretch. Although he drifted out a path or two when given a crack of the left-handed stick, he straightened away when the rider switched back to the right-hand for a final tap at the eighth pole, then powered further away in a big performance to the line.
Casiguapo was second while Lunarwarfare finished third. Big Sugar Soda, Wired Bryan, Long On Value, All in Blue, King Cyrus, Corfu, and Southern Blessing completed the order of finish.
Strong Mandate paid $16.60, $9.50, and $6.40, Casiguapo brought $24.40 and $10.40 at 30-1, and Lunarwarfare returned $5.40 to show.
It was a sixth Hopeful victory for Lukas, who last won with Dublin in 2009. "The Coach" has been enjoying a strong resurgence in 2013; he won the Aug. 24 Travers Stakes (gr. I) with Will Take Charge and took the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) with Oxbow, who also ran second in the Belmont (gr. I).
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr out of the grade I-winning Deputy Minister mare Clear Mandate, Strong Mandate was a $200,000 purchase at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale when consigned by Lane's End.
He came off an Aug. 17 4 1/2-length maiden score going 6 1/2 furlongs in his second start, with the Hopeful victory improving his record to two wins from three outings, good for earnings of $230,400.