MTH Cup (Grade 3)- $300.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
July 18, 2020
Mad King was not a huge longshot, but it is safe to say that not many people thought that he would end up as the winner in a field that featured several others who were more accomplished. At times, it seems as though his trainer, Mb Stables, can have the magic touch, and nothing he sends to the starting gate can ever be overlooked. Mad King becomes a good example of that as he wins his graded debut in this race. It is the second straight win for the Mb in this race, his third in four races, and fourth in seven races. The stake has now been won by a three year old the last six years. Jockey R M Hernandez wins for the first time. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:47.77, the quickest of the three editions run at this distance. Let’s take a look!
(½ Mile- :46.35)- Getting off to a quick start from the outside is Eclipse My Knowledge, one of the favorites, for Nakamura Stables. After an initial battle with stablemate Space Commander, he rounds the turn while opening up on the field and has a two and a half length lead as they enter the backstretch. Space Commander remains in the second position, but is held back closer to the rest of the field. Moving up to his inside would be the eventual winner from Mb Stables, Mad King, as well as the horse that ends up as the very close runner up, Gdp Inc’s Masons Day, who was sent off at odds of 56/1. Running in close proximity to this group is Steak And Potatoes, the Tiratzo horse that was our pick to win. There’s a small gap following them, and which would then lead to a four wide group that was five lengths from the lead. From inside to outside, this consisted of Marx On The Moon (Court Jester Racing), Broke Red (Mb Stables), Insist On Beauty (Chili King Stables), and Komet (Estero Farms). Trailing are Achillies (Diablo Diablo), and the post-time favorite, Serengeti Sands (TwinTowersRacing).
(3/4 Mile- 1:10.10)- Nothing too dramatic happens during the backstretch run, but Eclipse My Knowledge, approaching the turn, starts to show some signs of fatigue. Therefore, everyone in the field is able to cut their distance to him by about a length. Space Commander looked as though he would be the first to make a pass in the turn, but in the four wide position, that might not be easy. Mad King and Masons Day, who remain inseparable, were in much better spots to make a pass while in the turn. Others moved forward, but no pushes from behind were occurring yet.
(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Rounding the turn, things shake out much like as it seemed it would. Both Masons Day and Mad King complete the pass of Eclipse My Knowledge, and benefit from having better position on the track to allow them also to get by Space Commander. All three of these are running well, and appear to each have a great shot in the stretch. Eclipse My Knowledge dropped to fourth. Steak And Potatoes, who had been running near the new top three did not advance along with them, and was still two lengths out and in fifth. Further back, we still did not have anyone making that push forward, and time was running out.
(Finish- 1:47.77)- Masons Day started to look like the best of this group of three early on in the stretch, but as we got closer, they were all bobbing heads. Each of them were running well and giving it all they could, so it would just be a matter of which one would catch the break at the wire. Ultimately, in a very tight three-way photo, it is Mad King taking home the victory honors over both Masons Day and Space Commander, neither of whom have anything to be ashamed out. Steak And Potatoes tried to make an outside move, but could not advance, and gets passed for fourth by the late running Achilles. That one was the only horse further back that ever made a move to get a piece of the purse. After Steak And Potatoes, the rest of the field can be considered disappointments. Rounding out the order, it is Insist On Beauty, Marx On The Moon, Eclipse My Knowledge, Broke Red, Komet, and Serengeti Sands.
About The Winner- Mad King, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by R M Hernandez, is a three year old gelding by Commanding, and is out of Recorded Slaying. He was bred in California by Mb Stables as a second quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in 10 starts, and his first stake win of any sort. His career earnings are now $277.820.
Track: Fast
Time: :461 1:10 1:344 1:473
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 3 – 2 Paid 1,277.90
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 2 – 8 Paid 1,150.00
Scratched: Chaos Broke Out
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
