Da Big Hoss rebounds with Elkhorn victory

After a disappointing finish in the Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream last month, Da Big Hoss rebounded nicely to take the 1 ½ mile $250,000 Grade 2 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland.

Never far off the pace, Da Big Hoss and jockey Florent Geroux broke from post 1 and took up position just in behind the leaders. It was A Red Tie Day from post 3 who took up the mantle of pace setter with the Argentinian invader Idolo Porteno pressing the issue from second. Da Big Hoss tucked in behind them in third followed by Twilight Eclipse, Kaigun, Royal Albert Hall, St. Albans Boy, and late running Up With the Birds.

With no real speed in the race, A Red Tie Day was able to set a reasonable pace on the front end. Cruising through splits of :51.11 for the opening half, 1:17.11 for three-quarters, and 1:43.11 for the mile, the 6-year old Richard Baltas trainee continued to show the way through all three turns and midway through the stretch.

Into the final turn, Idolo Porteno and Twilight Eclipse were the first to challenge A Red Tie Day for the lead, but as the field turned for home, A Red Tie Day, who drifted off the rail, repelled those two and dared anyone else to come and get him.

With clear daylight now in front of him, Da Big Hoss took up the challenge and moved up the rail to take over the lead in deep stretch. To A Red Tie Day's outside, Kaigun and Royal Albert Hall came on late and went right past the pace setter. Running strongly, Kaigun looked like he might even stride past Da Big Hoss as the wire approached, but after a ground-saving trip, Da Big Hoss had enough left in the tank.

Crossing under the wire the winner by 1/2-length, Da Big Hoss stopped the clock in 2:31.29 over a firm turf course. Kaigun nabbed second, and Royal Albert Hall got up for third. A Red Tie Day stayed on for fourth. Up With the Birds improved position to run fifth and was followed by Twilight Eclipse, St. Albans Boy, and Idolo Porteno.

Winning jockey Florent Geroux said after the race, “He’s a very neat horse, push-button. You can put him exactly where you want to be. If there’s a bit of an opening, when you ask him to go, he can push through very clear and very quickly. I think that made the difference today, the trip and saving ground. When I was able to see the opening at the top of the stretch, my horse kicked on very nicely and kept going.”

Joe Bravo, who was aboard runner up Kaigun, had nothing but praise for his mount. “What a warrior. What can’t you say about Kaigun? He just loves to win, runs good,” he stated. “Trip makes such a big difference when it comes to turf racing. Da Big Hoss and Kaigun are pretty much dead-even horses, but having the inside post got (Da Big Hoss) in the winner’s circle today.”

An inquiry briefly held up making the race official as the stewards looked into the stretch run. In deep stretch, A Red Tie Day was taken up sharply as Kaigun drifted in and Royal Albert Hall drifted out a bit. After a quick look, the stewards ruled that there would be no change.

Gary Stevens, who piloted A Red Tie Day to that fourth place finish, took no issue with the stewards' ruling. “My horse was wanting to drift out just a little bit and I don’t know whether it was the inside (horse, Da Big Hoss) coming out or (Kaigun) coming in. It was kind of a combination. I told the stewards that is where I was going to finish anyway; my horse was tiring,” Stevens stated. “He ran a great race.  I was very happy with the pace. I was walking the first part; the second quarter was real slow. I didn’t see the fractions (on the tote board), but I know in my head the second quarter was very slow. I was happy. This was a fun race to ride. It is the first time he had tried running this far and (trainer) Richard (Baltas) did a helluva job with him. It was a good effort from him.”

As the 5/2 favorite, Da Big Hoss paid $7.40/$3.80/$3.00 for the win. Second betting choice Kaigun returned $3.40/$2.40, and Royal Albert Hall returned $4.60 for the show. The $2 exacta paid $24.00, the $2 trifecta returned $186.00, and the $2 superfecta was worth $1,152.60.

By Lemon Drop Kid and out of the Touch Gold mare Lady Struck Gold, Da Big Hoss improved his career record to 18: 9-1-3 for total purse earnings of $858,936. Previous victories include the G3 Kentucky Turf Cup last year and the G3 John B. Connally Turf Cup earlier this year.

Bred by Gary and Mary West, Da Big Hoss began his career racing under the pink and black colors of his breeders. Current owner Skychai Racing LLC picked up the intact son of Lemon Drop Kid for $50,000 out of a claiming race back in June. He has since done his best running for his new connections.

When asked what made the difference today in comparison to the Mac Diarmida last month, winning trainer Mike Maker explained, “Gulfstream has a very firm turf course, and I’m not sure it was to his liking. That day, I thought it was a very speed-favoring turf course. We tried to put him in a hot pace, and it just didn’t work out.”