The Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1)- $350.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
August 1, 2015

Back around Memorial Day, a four year old gelding caught the attention of Sanny Village.  That horse, Steadyashegoes, had been running for Tirstar Stables, and around this time last year, he started to show a lot of promise.  Seeing that, the two stables agreed to a sale, and Steadyashegoes was now part of the Sanny Village stable for $100.000.  The horse knew right away that his new trainer meant business, with a mile work then an immediate geld before he even had a chance to go to sleep that night.  Sanny Village had a couple promising races with his new gelding leading into this race, and although I didn’t pick his horse, I was interested in seeing how he would respond to competition at this high of a level while sprinting.  The potential seemed there, and now, the potential is realized.  Steadyashegoes is now a grade one winner, as he just hangs on at the very end to get the victory!  Congratulations to Sanny Village and jockey R J Albarado, each of whom win the stake for the first time.   The winning time of 1:09.03 is generally a median time when looking at past winning times of the stake.  Let’s take a deeper look at it!

1st- 5- Steadyashegoes (7/1)- R J Albarado wasted no times shooting Steadyashegoes out of the gate, and the eventual race winner from Sanny Village was clear by a length when he set the 1/4 mile fraction in :22.59.   Lived up to his name in the turn with a steady run, and emerged at the top of the stretch with about a length and a half advantage over his closest rival.  In the stretch, they were coming at him from his immediate outside.  From the rail.  From the far outside.   The trainer was screaming, presumably for the wire to hurry up, and it would come just in time.  Steadyashegoes hangs on.  Barely!  Steadyashegoes is a four year old gelding by Mummy and out of the autogen Steady Amy.  He was bred in New York by La Canada Racehorses, where he raced once before being sold in auction for $51.010 to Tirstar Stables.  As mentioned in the opening, he was then sold in private sales to Sanny Village this May for $100.000.  Congratulations to all connections!

2nd- 6- Ginsoaked Muse (11/1)- While it’s not completely uncharacteristic for the Barcelona Farms entry to come from behind, but it was a little surprising to see him at the back of the pack early on.  J Graham began moving him forward on exit of the turn, though it wasn’t immediately clearly which would be the best lane for him to take.  Fortunately for him, Masterpiece Five vacated the rail, and Graham pounced on his opportunity.  He made a fantastic bid at the end, but the wire came up a couple strides too quickly.

3rd- 2- Investment Grade (7/1)- D J C Racing Stables added the bute back after all, and his horse was just off the lead in the early stages.   E T Baird asked him for more run in the stretch, and Investment Grade would oblige, as he began to reel in the leader, though still had threats coming from behind him.  Made a nice bid to the outside of Steadyashegoes, but in a four way photo at the end, he would only emerge as the third place horse.

4th- 8- Caymanas Park (13/1)- Next to last in the early going for Night Rider Stables, with a bit of a wide trip heading into the turn.   Still about four or five wide on exit of the turn, Caymanas Park was full of run in the stretch.  This run was terrific, but he was simply too far to the outside.  He was involved in a photo for the win, but it didn’t help that he was this wide, and the photo would only show him 4th.

5th- 9- Slow And Slower (11/1)- The Blushing Meadows entry got off to a quick start, and was one of Steadyashegoes’ closest pursuers in the early going.   Hung in there for the turn, and would remain close to the leaders and only missed out by half a length.  But he was much like Steadyashegoes in the stretch where he was trying to hang on, not close.

6th- 3- Kiwiw Ripoff (3/1)- My pick never really seemed to get going today, as Kiwiw Ripoff was only midpack early for his trainer, Threshold.  Ran consistently in the stretch, but had nothing for the leaders, or those closing behind him.  You could make an argument that K T came down on him a little in the stretch, and in a race that was as close as this one was at the end it could have been the difference.

7th- 4- Astrobound (7/1)- Towards the back early for Mb Stables, about four lengths back as they hit the turn.  He remained to the outside of Kiwiw Ripoff for much of the stretch run, which might not have been a bad idea if it wasn’t for the traffic in front of him. He needed a little more power in his stretch kick to contend, regardless.

8th- 1- Masterpiece Five (3/1)- Listed as the slight favorite at post time for Razorback Racing.  Got off to a midpack start, and maintained his position throughout the turn.  While in the stretch, Masterpiece Five came up empty, and he would disappoint many in the stands who supported him.

9th- 7- K T (12/1)-   Things would start better then they would finish for the Downwind Stables trained entry.  He stalked Steadyashegoes, but didn’t seem to put any unnecessary pressure on him, either.   Kept about two lengths behind him during the turn, but he had no response in the stretch.  With those closing well from behind, this would result in him bringing up the rear of the field.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45   :56³  1:09

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 6 Paid 61.40
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 6 – 2 Paid 815.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I