Ron the Greek confirmed his championship credentials with a thrilling victory
over Wise Dan in the Grade 1, $437,200
Stephen Foster Handicap, rallying up the inside to edge the favorite by a
head on the wire. The five-year-old horse capped a big night for trainer Bill
Mott, who also saddled champion Royal Delta to an eight-length score in the
Grade 2 Fleur des Lis one race earlier on Saturday’s Downs after Dark program.
A convincing 3 1/2-length victor of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap earlier
this term, at the site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Ron the Greek
entered the 1 1/8-mile Foster off a runner-up effort behind Alternation in the
Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. He turned the tables on that rival, who wound up a
disappointing fifth, and Ron the Greek now ranks at or very near the top of the
older horse division.
With regular rider Jose Lezcano, the bay son of Full Mandate broke sharply
but was squeezed and shuffled back early in a tight pack of runners, rating well
off the pace in sixth along the rail as the field entered the first turn. He
remained on the fence the rest of the way.
Nates Mineshaft sprinted to the fore from his inside post and led through
opening fractions in :23 3/5, :47 1/5 and 1:10 4/5. Wise Dan, who was roughed up
when sandwiched between horses shortly after the break, accelerated out of
trouble and raced several paths off the rail in third, within two lengths of the
pacesetter, as the field made its way down the backstretch. Fort Larned was also
up close on the inside, and Ron the Greek was still reserved nearly 10 lengths
back after the opening three-quarters of a mile.
After making steady progress through the far turn, Ron the Greek came under a
full ride turning for home and started to respond to Lezcano’s urgings. Nates
Mineshaft passed the mile mark in 1:36 1/5 with a two-length advantage, but
started to weaken significantly in the final furlong. Wise Dan, who weaved in
and out during the stretch drive, threatened to win while charging on the far
outside late, but Ron the Greek closed determinedly to get up in the final
jumps.
He stopped the teletimer in 1:50 2/5 on the fast track.
Owned by Brous Stable, Wachtel Stable and breeder Jack T. Hammer, Ron the
Greek was overlooked as the 9-1 fifth choice among eight rivals and returned
payouts of $20.80, $6.40 and $5.40 to his supporters. Wise Dan, the 4-5
favorite, wound up nearly a length better than third-placer Nates Mineshaft. The
runner-up survived a claim of objection from the jockey of Rogue Romance, who
wound up another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Alternation, Nehro, Mission
Impazible and Fort Larned completed the order of finish.
Ron the Greek has captured four of his last six starts, posting a five-length
win in the Sunny and Mild Stakes in November before adding a 2 1/4-length win in
the Queens County Stakes to his line one month later. He opened the year with a
second to Mucho Macho Man in the Sunshine Millions Classic. The Florida-bred
also captured the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes in 2010.
With the $262,932 payday, Ron the Greek joined the millionaire’s club,
boosting his bankroll to $1,112,597 from a 19-7-4-1 career line. He is the only
registered stakes winner out of the winning Fortunate Prospect mare Flambe’, who
is a full sister to stakes-placed Fortuesque, herself the dam of Grade 2 winner
and dual classic-placed Musket Man. This female family has also produced 1969
champion two-year-old colt Silent Screen.
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