CHARLIE’S MOMENT (Indian Charlie) had been a regular presence on the Southern
California stakes scene, winning or placing in six black-type events going into
Sunday’s $100,000
Lazaro
Barrera Memorial S. (G3), but that workmanlike record was not enough to
garner favoritism in the seven-furlong affair at Hollywood Park. Instead, the
unbeaten Canonize (Aldebaran), two-for-two so far, was dispatched as the 4-5
choice in his stakes debut. As it turned out, the lightly raced favorite could
not cope with the battle-hardened Charlie’s Moment. In a triumph of experience
over hope, the consistent gelding repelled a brief challenge from Canonize at
the top of the stretch and rolled to a two-length victory, earning his first
graded tally.
The speedy Backbackbackgone (Put It Back) roared to the front right out of
the gate, but Alex Solis hustled Charlie’s Moment up along the fence to gain the
lead through splits of :22 2/5 and :45. Position A (Aldebaran) took up a
stalking position in third, while Canonize gradually advanced into contention
and joined him as they tracked the leaders.
Charlie’s Moment dismissed Backbackbackgone on the far turn and was in
command as the field swung into the stretch. Canonize tried to mount a rally,
but stayed on his left lead and never got close enough to trouble the winner.
Full of run as he opened up by 1 1/2 lengths in midstretch, sizzling six
furlongs in 1:08 4/5, Charlie’s Moment maintained his momentum all the way to
the wire. The 6-1 fourth choice in the eight-horse field, he reeled off seven
furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:21 4/5 and paid $15, $6.60 and $3.40.
Bet on Victor (Yankee Victor) closed from well back to finish second, 1 1/4
lengths ahead of Canonize, and returned $5.60 and $2.60 at 5-1. Canonize held
third by three-quarters of a length, yielding $2.10. The $1 exotics were worth
$36.50 (exacta), $89.50 (trifecta) and $875.50 (5-10-2-9 superfecta) with
Position A running evenly in fourth. Quindici Man (Came Home) reported home
fifth and was followed by Carbonite (Aldebaran), Backbackbackgone and All Saint
(Skimming). Triumphant Flight (Chullo [Arg]) and Zensational (Unbridled’s Song),
both expected to contribute to the pace, were scratched.
Campaigned by Gramer, Pycz, Nicolarsen, Rasky and trainer Walther Solis,
Charlie’s Moment increased his earnings to $231,760 from a record of 12-4-3-2.
At two, the dark bay captured the Gateway to Glory S. at Fairplex, just missed
in the Jack Goodman S. at Oak Tree, was promoted to third via disqualification
in the Best Pal S. (G2) at Del Mar, and finished third in the Real Quiet S.
Ninth in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) in his sophomore bow, Charlie’s Moment cut
back to six furlongs and posted a wire-to-wire victory in the King Glorious H.
at Golden Gate. His last two outings came at Santa Anita, where he was a closing
second in the San Miguel S. and a tiring fourth in the one-mile La Puente S. on
turf.
Charlie’s Moment was bred by the McKathan Bros. in Florida and was purchased
by his trainer for $17,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Out of the winning
Bold Revenue mare Moment of Light, he has an unraced juvenile half-sister named
A Trippi Moment (Trippi) and an unnamed yearling half-brother by Omega Code.
This is the family of champion and noted sire Dehere (Deputy Minister).