Duke Or Earl Surprises In DMR Mile

By Nynl Stables on August 20, 2018

DMR Mile (Grade 2)- $200.000 Mile
DMR- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
August 19, 2018

Someone out there must have put a ton of money on Duke Or Earl to win. He was 50/1 in the morning line, but bet down to 5/1. However, based on his place and show prices, we can see that he was still really a longshot here despite the new 5/1 odds on him. He has had a steady career, and always seems to represent himself well. This put him among our picks, but not on top. Duke Or Earl would be up for the task, however, coming from well out of it early to get the victory. Gdp Inc is the proud winning trainer of this one, his first win in the stake. Jockey V Espinoza, however, has done it several times before, as this was fourth DMR Mile win. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:32.97, one of the better recent times of the stake’s history. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :23.17)- As the race begins, its Eastern Townships breaking sharply out of the gate and assuming the lead into the turn for the Sanny Village. Steel Home, the longshot from Jediminds Stable who was also in an outside post, was strong early and runs second. Sitting just off the lead were a couple other quick starters, both Apollos Gold, from Team 7 Illusions, and Serious Cobra, from John Henry. They each elect not to chase the two front runners too closely, though. Saratoga Stud’s Solow is another length back, and then in the middle of pack is a three wide group consisting of Swamp Fox (Blushing Meadows), Blame The Moon (Allinthegate), and Regret Nothing (Estero Farms). Our eventual winner, Duke Or Earl was another length back, and the Gdp Inc was four wide as well. Block Message (Tiratzo) was five wide. The trailers are Moon Ruler (D J C Racing Stables) and Sports Car (Mb Stables).

(½ Mile- :45.97)- At the front Eastern Townships sets a quick early pace as they move down the backstretch, and Steel Home is happy to run with him. Midway through this portion, he will pull up to the inside of Eastern Townships and look to make the pass. Apollos Gold and Serious Cobra each continued to run together, remaining in striking range of two lengths. They would have company now, as Solow comes up to join them. Swamp Fox, Blame The Moon and Regret Nothing are still three wide, with Block Message a length behind them. Duke Or Earl was next on the rail, with nearly seven lengths to make up. Sports Car and Moon Ruler trailed.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Things get a little crazy in the turn as both Eastern Townships and Steel Home are becoming unable to maintain the pace, and the field closes in. Steel Home is still leading at this point, but that was in jeopardy. Both Apollos Gold and Serious Cobra had caught them and were prepared to fly on by. G Franco did seem to have some indecisiveness with Apollos Gold in deciding what lane he would take moving into the stretch, and in what would be a close finish for him, you have to wonder if that cost him the race. Eastern Townships was a fading fourth. Swamp Fox and Blame The Moon make an outside move, though Solow is still in the outermost lane. Block Message, who was behind them, swings out for a wider move and Regret Nothing does similar. With all of the traffic bearing right, Duke Or Earl was happy to see the rail suddenly become clear and unobstructed, and a jockey like V Espinoza knows what to do with it. As others bumped with one other, he maintained a full stride and quickly sliced the deficit to two and a half lengths. Sports Car probably could have altered his path to follow him, but also seemed to like the idea of going wide. Moon Ruler wasn’t showing much yet, but had room for a run to pick off some spots.

(Finish- 1:32.97)- The rail was sitting right there for Duke Or Earl and V Espinoza was happy to take it. Duke Or Earl knows how to finish well, and with the way this set up for him, things looked good. He would have the stretch kick needed to finish ahead of Swamp Fox in a photo finish. That great trip Duke Or Earl had should have been his. He was on the rail, but with 2.7F to go, for some odd reason, K Frey elected to go off the rail to swing to the outside of Apollos Gold. The jockey will have some explaining to do to Blushing Meadows, I’m sure. Apollos Gold was strong in the stretch as well, but is only third here. After half a length, its Serious Cobra fourth, ahead of Block Message. Sports Car is only sixth while Steel Home dropped to seventh. Rounding out the running order is Solow, Blame The Moon, Regret Nothing, Moon Ruler, and Eastern Townships.

About The Winner: Duke Or Earl, trained by Gdp Inc and ridden to victory by V Espinoza, is a gelding by Nutone, and is one Salish Lodge. He was bred in California by Marcus White as a yearling, and acquired by Gdp Inc, via Alegria, in the June 2017 auction for $10.010. It is his eighth win in 21 career starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $301.480.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Duke Or Earl

Gdp Inc

Espinoza V

5.65

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