Byron W. House III’s RODEO’S CASTLE (Rodeo) launched his rally four wide on
the far turn and determinedly caught Beau’s Town (Beau Genius) in deep stretch
to win Saturday’s $276,100
Duncan F. Kenner Breeders’ Cup H.
by a neck. The only one of four stakes not graded, the six-furlong event kicked
off the “Road to the Derby” program at the Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs meet.
Orphan Brigade (Roar) sprinted to a clear lead early, covering the opening
two furlongs in :22, but his lead was beginning to dwindle through a half-mile
in :45 1/5. Making his first start in nearly 14 months, Beau’s Town rated patiently in second before taking over turning for
home, getting five furlongs in :57, and opened nearly a two-length advantage
in upper stretch. With jockey John Jacinto energetically prompting his mount on
the far outside, Rodeo’s Castle was able to wear down Beau’s Town just before
the wire and stopped the teletimer in 1:10 2/5 on the fast track.
The winner rated Saturday after contesting the early pace in his recent
starts.
“I thought he’d come from off of it because he’s a very competitive horse,”
trainer Beverly Fowler said. “He knows how to play the game. John rode him
perfectly.”
Rodeo’s Castle returned $11, $6.40 and $5 as the 9-2 third choice. Beau’s
Town, the 9-2 fourth choice among eight betting interests, held the place by a
half-length over the late-running Dreamsandvisions (Kipling), who was off at
18-1. Fourth-placer Stolen Time (Time Bandit) finished another half-length back
and was trailed under the wire by Two Down Automatic (Smoke Glacken), That Tat (Faltaat),
Orphan Brigade and the 8-5 favored entry of Top Commander (Kingmambo) and
Grand Bank (Dixieland Band), respectively.
Out of the stakes-placed Sezyou mare David’s Castle, Rodeo’s Castle was bred
in Florida by Gus Schoenborn Jr. and sold for $5,000 as an OBS Texas August
yearling. He RNA’ed the following year at the Texas March two-year-old sale.
Rodeo’s Castle won his first two career starts in 2004 at the claiming level but
quickly developed into a stakes-quality colt last season, winning the Ford
Express S. and King’s Court S. and finishing second in the Thanksgiving H. and
Island Whirl H. He’s now earned $357,460 from a 15-8-4-0 line.
The bay five-year-old has a winning three-year-old half-sister named Camilles
Castle (Commitisize) and a yearling half-brother by Gibson County.