Mojave Rattler Makes Mo Mentum Farm a BC Winner in Mile

By Nynl Stables on November 3, 2019

BC Mile (Grade 1)- $2,000.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
November 2, 2019

Momentum is a good thing to have in sports. That is something that Mo Mentum Farm has certainly had over the last month, winning their first Grade 1 in stable history on October 5th. The trainer first joined HRP in 2004, and has been successful in the levels in which he has run, and had picked up 15 other graded victories during that time frame. The Grade 1, however, eluded him. Finally, in the Shadwell Turf Mile, it would be Mojave Rattler finally getting it done for Mo Mentum farm. A week later, he won his second Grade 1 with a horse named Lorraine, and some positive momentum had been built. Now, less then a month after winning his first Grade 1, Mo Mentum Farm is now a BC winner, and it would be Mojave Rattler getting the job done once again. At this pace, who knows what may be in store for the trainer. Congratulations to him on the big win! Aboard the winner was T Gaffalione, who also wins the race for the first time. The time of the victory was 1:33.01. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :22.81)- From the outside, Arkenstone goes out to the lead for Mb Stables, and he enjoys a length lead over the Nakamura Stables entry, Decision In Five. It’s four wide directly behind them, with the two inside horses being Pennsville Farm’s Green Rush and John Henry’s Going Gone, who was our pick to win. He had his well accomplished stablemate, Lunar Blaze to his outside, and in the fourth lane it was where we would find our eventual winner Mojave Rattler. Certainly, being in the money lane at this point in the race could not be a bad thing. There was a gap of two lengths to both Cherra Grans (Team 7 Illusions) and Devilish Luck (D J C Racing Stables). The rest of the field was pretty close together, with their order for now being, Name Drop (Fractious), Nowhere Man (Mb Stables), Dreaming Of Pirates (Estero Farms), The Hand Youre Dealt (Aer Stables), Devilish Details (Mb Stables), and City Of Bones (John Henry).

(½ Mile- :45.73)- The second quarter of the race sees the field pretty much content to just ride along and maintained their positions. Arkenstone was still pacing the field, and now opened up to almost two lengths over Decision In Five. Mojave Rattler maintained his stride while running four wide in the next group of horses. Both Green Rush and Going Gone were in synchronized stride on the inside, while Lunar Blaze was right there with them. Cherra Grans started to cut into the two length gap that was in front of him, as the rest of the field held their ground.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Arkenstone continues to lead in the backstretch, and actually extends his lead to two and a half lengths at the top of the turn. However, once there, it became clear that he was not going to be able to stay there. Mojave Rattler had not forced the issue until the turn, but had moved into the second position, and was ready to make his run. At the top of the stretch, Mojave Rattler was only a length and a half from the lead. Going Gone had also looked good at this point, and was also gaining. Decision In Five was backing up, and Green Rush, who had been even with Going Gone earlier in the race, was now lacking response. So, too, was Lunar Blaze. There were horses coming on front the back of the pack, with Dreaming Of Priates, Devilish Luck, and Cherra Grans seeming the most ambitious. City Of Bones made a six wide move, but still had four and a half lengths to make up on the leader. Devilish Details went to the seventh lane and had an additional length to make up. Nowhere Man, a horse liked by many, was coming up empty, and Name Drop and The Hand Your Dealt were looking beaten.

(Finish- 1:33.01)- To his credit, Arkenstone hung around longer then I thought he was going to, and that effort almost got rewarded with a piece of the purse. However, he was not going to hold off Mojave Rattler, who slithered by him with a furlong to go, but his work was not done yet. There were two horses making fantastic outside bids: both City Of Bones and Devilish Details were in an all out drive to get the win late. Dreaming Of Pirates was also right behind him, too, and needed to be held off. Mojave Rattler would do just that, holding off of the challengers and making Mo Mentum Farm a BC winner. City Of Bones get the runner up spot. It was a tight three way photo for third with Dreaming Of Pirates prevailing over the Mb Stables pair of Devilish Details and the frontrunning Arkenstone. Going Gone disappoints me again, no more picking him. Cherra Grans is seventh over Green Rush and a dead heat between Decision In Five and Devilish Luck. Rounding out the order, it’s Lunar Blaze, Nowhere Man, Name Drop, and The Hand Youre Dealt.

About The Winner- Mojave Rattler, trained by Mo Mentum Farm, and ridden to victory by T Gaffalione, is a three year old gelding by Snakie, and is out of Beef Hooked. He was bred in Ontario by John Henry as a yearling, and acquired by Mo Mentum Farm in late November 2018 for $80.000. The win is his fifth in 15 starts, and his second graded win. His career earnings are now $1,989.360.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Mojave Rattler

Mo Mentum Farm

Gaffalione T

9.10

1^1/2