The Razorback Handicap (Grade 3)- $500.000 Purse
OP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
February 18, 2019
Back in 2015, Have A Seat was having a strong three year old season, that included finishing third in the PA Derby, behind Port On The Horizon and Unsuited, for an idea of long ago that actually was. At four, he ran in some ungraded stakes, but generally saw a class drop. That would continue into 2017, and again into 2018 where he ended up being in some very small claiming races. He was commonly claimed, but didn’t really stick around anywhere for long. He did earn nine wins last season, but of the small variety. He soon ended up with Maxmillion Farm, and Max had other ideas then keeping him in low claimers. He was entered into a claiming crown race, and finished fourth, then won a starter allowance. Then here, for the first graded stake he’d attempt since August 2016. He’d earn the win, and it would be the first time he would win a graded stake, and it comes in his 52nd career race. Congrats to Maxmillion Farm on not only the win, but discovered that this old-timer still had plenty left in the tank. It’s his first win in the stake, and that is true for jockey L Saez as well. The time of the win was 1:40.85. Let’s take a look!
(1/4 Mile- :23.70)- From his outside post position, Zombie City, the post time favorite from Eastern Equine takes the early lead by a quarter length over Kiss The Snake, who runs just to his inside for Nakamura Stables. In a stalking position, we had Minutes Hand on the rail for Mb Stables, and Tekkers, out of Maxmillion Farm, running in the fourth lane. In between horses, we have On Deck (Night Rider Stables) and Cheapsnake (John Henry), as well as the eventual winner from Maxmillion Farm, Have A Seat. At this point, Have A Seat, was only around three lengths from the lead. Alpha Uno and Farley On Wheels trail as there is not really anyone greatly out of it at this point.
(½ Mile- :47.15)- Zombie City and Kiss The Snake continue to show the way as they move down the backstretch. However, they are about to have company as two horses make a move towards the front. The first would be Tekkers, who was always in the stalking position but now wanted to challenge for the lead, and was within a neck of the top two. The other notable advancer here was On Deck, who followed Tekkers forward, moving into fourth and now being within a length of the lead himself. Have A Seat remained a length behind On Deck, positioned to his inside. Behind him were Minutes Hand, who dropped back a bit more, and Cheapsnake. They started to get more spread out behind him, as there was a gap of two to Alpha Uno now and about two more to Farley On Wheels.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Things begin to heat up as the run around the final turn begins. Zombie City, Kiss The Snake, and Tekkers are still in front, but as they get about midway through, Zombie City starts to lose ground. There was a nice opening for On Deck to move through, but Have A Seat also wanted to make a run, but couldn’t because Zombie City was in his way. Therefore, L Saez needed another option, and moved down a bit to try and take the same opening the On Deck was using. On Deck and Ro Maragh were polite and courteous to not hinder Have A Seat here, and moved down a little more so Have A Seat could have the lane, and he would pounce on it. As this was going on, the rail was opening up nicely for Minutes Hand. Cheapsnake hadn’t made his move yet, though Alpha Uno was starting to pick it up. Farley On Wheels was being left behind.
(Finish- 1:40.85)- In the stretch, Have A Seat was able to push himself about a length ahead of the rest of the field and was able to stay there. He would not have to contend with another horse making a bid as he gets the win over Kiss The Snake. The winner’s stablemate, Tekkers, gets third, to cap a strong race for Maxmillion Farm. On Deck runs fourth, though seemed destined for a better finish at times. Minutes Hand stayed with the back, but did not advance much, and gets 5th, ahead of the closing Alpha Uno and tiring Zombie City. Cheapsnake is next, and Farley On Wheels struggled.
About The Winner- Have A Seat, trained by Maxmillion Farm, and ridden to victory by L Saez, is a seven year old gelding by the late Tafadhali Nataka, and is out of Heavy Steel. He was bred in California by Mb Stables as a second quarter two year old, and acquired from Maxmillion Farm via El Primero Rodeo in private sales in November 2018 for $15.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his 23rd in 52 career starts, his second stake win and first graded win. His career earnings are now $926.000.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | |||
|
Have A Seat | Maxmillion Farm | Saez L | 6.80 | 11 | 1:40.85 | ||||
|
Kiss The Snake | Nakamura Stables | Talamo J | 7.05 | 21/4 | 1:41.15 | ||||
|
Tekkers | Maxmillion Farm | Lopez P | 4.65 | 3nk | 1:41.23 | ||||
|
On Deck | Night Rider Stables | Maragh Ro | 41.70 | 4nk | 1:41.28 | ||||
|
Minutes Hand | Mb Stables | Gaffalione T | 3.10 | 51 | 1:41.34 | ||||
|
Alpha Uno | Estero Farms | Gallardo A A | 14.05 | 6nk | 1:41.55 | ||||
|
Zombie City | Eastern Equine | Velazquez J R | 2.95 | 73/4 | 1:41.60 | ||||
|
Cheapsnake | John Henry | Van Dyke D | 6.20 | 82 | 1:41.76 | ||||
|
Farley On Wheels | Tiratzo | Bejarano R | 36.95 | 9 | 1:42.28 |
Track: Fast
Time: :233 :47 1:102 1:404
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 1 – Have A Seat | 15.60 | 7.60 | 5.10 |
| 7 – Kiss The Snake | 7.70 | 5.10 | |
| 5 – Tekkers | 4.30 |
$1 Exacta: 1 – 7 Paid 48.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 7 – 5 Paid 725.40
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
