The Woodward Handicap (Grade 1)- $625.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt
September 5, 2020
In the Woodward Handicap, The A Stable picked up their biggest win as a trainer, as it is their first ever Grade 1 win. Special congratulations go out to them on this special achievement, and hopefully we will see them pick up more of these in the future. The trainer would do this with American Phuegoah, a homebred that made their debut exactly four years ago. He is a six year old gelding that has been knocking on the door of a big win like this, and today, he would finally get it. Naturally then, it is the first win in the Woodward for The A Stable, and it is the second for jockey K J Desormeaux. The time of the win was 2:00.75, which cannot be compared to a previous edition as this is the first year it has been run at ten furlongs in the game. Let’s take a look at it!
(½ Mile- :47.52)- The start of this race, interestingly, had a lot of activity with horses moving up and back through the running order. The quickest starter from the gate would be Salar de Uyuni, and the Mb Stables trained entry would remain at the front as they moved into the clubhouse turn. It appeared as though his initial company at the start would be Two Hearts One Love’s Remson, but after starting well, that one would be restrained into the middle of the field. Meanwhile, a couple horses that looked like they would be in the middle of the pack early would advance going into the opening turn, and the most notable one would be Rainstorm, from Fractious. After half a mile, he pulled up alongside Salar de Uyuni. Looked like he might try to grab the lead, but Salar de Uyuni was not going to let him have it. The other mover with him was Obeah Mon, from Night Rider Stables, but he looked like he changed his mind again, and settled into a spot three lengths from the lead. Our eventual winner, American Phuegoah, from The A Stable, was another that looked like he would be content to run midpack early, but then advanced somewhat in the turn. After half a mile, he moved up to third, and just under two lengths from the lead. Never Met Me, from Mb Stables, ran fourth, to the inside of Obeah Mon and Remson. IN the heart of the pack, a four wide group consisting of, from inside to outside, Laffy Crack (Night Rider Stables), Minutes Hand (Mb Stables), L A Raw (D J C Racing Stables), and California Chrome (Nakamura Stables) was next. Then came Psychotic Ruler (Night Rider Stables), Born A Diplomat (Oquinn Farm), and Long Term Investment (TwinTowersRacing). Trailing was Shanghai (Nakamura Stables).
(¾ Mile- 1:11.26)- Running down the backstretch, American Phuegoah began to make his move for the lead of the race. Salar de Uyuni was still in front, and continued to have Rainstorm right behind him, but now American Phuegoah had pulled up right alongside them, and the three of them were heads apart for the top spot. They would also pull two lengths ahead of the next group of three, a threesome that still consisted of Never Met Me, Remson, and Obeah Mon. Behind them, things were really tight, with not much room between many of them. L A Raw had the best of the lane of this bunch, with the ability to run to the outside of Obeah Mon, and California Chrome moved five wide. However, there was nowhere to run for either Minutes Hand or Psychotic Ruler at this point. Born A Diplomat could hope to follow L A Raw through.
(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Early in the final turn, American Phuegoah is able to put away both Salar de Uyuni and Rainstorm as neither of them are able to keep up the pace. At the top of the stretch, he is in full stride with the new challenger emerging in the form of Never Met Me. That one had a great rail trip ever since the start of the race, and was creeping closer just a little bit. Remson was coming forward, too, moving a neck in front of Obeah Mon as both of them looked to make a run at the lead. L A Raw made the most of his clear lane, but still needed to make up three lengths on the leaders. Minutes Hand never had a clear path to the front here. On the far outside, Shanghai was looking to make a big, but had quite a bit of ground to make up.
(Finish- 2:00.75)- American Phuegoah had run really well this whole race, but in the stretch he was no less impressive. Never Met Me was coming on, but American Phuegoah still had plenty left in the tank to continue to dig in, stride after stride, not allowing Never Met Me to get by him. He would hold his lead by a neck for the duration of the stretch, and this would keep any other challengers from getting near them as well. In the end, it’s a thrilling way for one to pick up their first Grade 1 win, and that is something that The A Stable will be able to enjoy, beating an Mb Stables horse, Never Met Me, to the wire. Nothing wrong with Never Met Me here, as he is a strong second. It was very close for third, and a dead heat was declared between Obeah Mon and L A Raw. Remson edges Minutes Hand for fifth. The final running order would be Shanghai, Born A Diplomat, Rainstorm, Salar de Uyuni, Psychotic Ruler, Laffy Crack, California Chrome, and Long Term Investment.
About the Winner- American Phuegoah, trained by The A Stable, and ridden to victory by K J Desormeaux, is a six year old gelding by El Gran Fuego, and is out of All For Thee. He was bred in California as a second quarter two year old by The A Stable, the only trainer for which he has ever known! Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 19 starts, and it is his first stake win of any variety. His career earnings are now $623.460.
Track: Fast
Time: :472 1:111 1:353 2:003
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 6 – 1 Paid 102.00
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 1 – 10 Paid 302.70, 6 – 1 – 11 Paid 906.30
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
