Slumber points for Joe Hirsch; Teaks North headed to
California
Juddmonte Farms’ Slumber appears on his way back to major stakes racing
following his authoritative score Thursday in a $100,000 optional claimer at 1
3/16 miles on Saratoga’s Mellon turf course.
Slumber, a five-year-old British-bred son of Cacique trained by Hall of Famer
Bill Mott, hadn’t been out since winning an allowance last August because of
nagging carpal tunnel issues in a foreleg. Before that, he hadn’t run since
finishing fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths in the Hollywood Derby in November 2011.
On Thursday, Slumber settled easily into fourth behind pacesetter Roadhog,
and jockey Junior Alvarado tracked on the inside, saving ground on the
backstretch through a half-mile in :50 on the good turf.
When the field reached the far turn, Alvarado remained inside while others
bid for the lead. Turning for home, Slumber shot through an opening down the
middle of the track and pulled away to win by 3 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:56.
“He was impressive,” Mott said. “He was impressive here last year, too. We
would have liked to have made plans for him last year, but we were unable to.
“He was with me most of the time, but he went back to Juddmonte (near
Lexington) for about three months this spring. I thought we were going to make
it back, but in January we had to stop on him again.”
Now that the horse is healthy, Mott has optimistic plans for Slumber. He
mentioned the Grade 2, $200,000 Bowling Green Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on the
grass September 7 at Belmont Park, but is leaning toward the Grade 1, $600,000
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at 1 1/2 miles on September 28, also at
Belmont.
“It seems like the Bowling Green comes up a little quick, and you can’t run
both the Bowling Green and the Turf Classic, I don’t think,” Mott said. “So, I
think my choice is to go to Canada or run in the Turf Classic, if I can get an
invitation.”
Slumber broke his maiden at Epsom in 2011 in his second start. He finished
third, beaten just three lengths to future Group/Grade 1 winner Treasure Beach
in the Chester Vase and then placed in two more group stakes.
He ran in the Hollywood Derby for trainer Charles Hills and then was
transferred to Mott.
Among those beaten by Slumber on Thursday was two-time Grade 1 veteran Teaks
North, who crossed the wire last of six.
The gelding was claimed out of that race for $100,000 by trainer Eric Guillot
on behalf of Michael Moreno’s Southern Equine Stable. Guillot won a three-way
shake against trainers David Jacobson and Michael Maker for Teaks North.
Despite Teaks North’s disappointing performance on Thursday, Guillot still as
lofty plans for him.
“I’m going back (to California at the end of the Saratoga meet) and I’m not
going to leave him behind (in New York), so I’ll bring him (to California) and
run him in a stakes and see where we’re at with him,” Guillot said.
“I claimed him to swing for the fences in the Breeders’ Cup (Turf). His
numbers are good enough to compete in it. He’s a speed horse, and speed horses
do good on Santa Anita’s turf course.”
Teaks North won the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap and United Nations in
2011 and this year has added victories in the Sunshine Millions Turf for
Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park and the Good Reward overnight stakes at Belmont
Park. After finishing second in the 2013 United Nations on July 6, he came up
empty on the far turn on Thursday in his final start for trainer Michelle Nevin
and owner Sanford Robbins.
“He shipped in from Belmont (on raceday), got a little hot, and he went a lot
of time without a breeze,” Guillot said. “He got beat 7 1/2 lengths; it’s not
like he got beat a million miles. If you look at his form, every third race he
throws in a clunker and comes back with a big race.”
Guillot has Moreno aiming for the Grade 1 Travers and Salutos Amigos on
target for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on August 24, and both three-year-olds are
scheduled to breeze Saturday on the main track. Salutos Amigos will breeze at
5:45 a.m. (EDT) and Moreno will go out at 8:45 a.m., Guillot said.
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