California-based Roy H upsets the True North

Roy H, a California shipper who was making his first start in a stakes race, came to Belmont Park and upset the heavy favorite, Whitmore, in the $250,000 True North (G2). Whitmore was seeking his sixth consecutive sprinting victory; however, with his win Roy H notched his third in a row.

The Peter Miller trainee was making his third start of 2017. In April, he won a first level allowance on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita. A month later Roy H was victorious in a second level allowance that was moved to the main track at Santa Anita from that same turf course. It was that win on the dirt by more than seven lengths while earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure that got Miller thinking about the move to stakes company.

"If you didn't know the horse, you might think this was an ambitious spot for him,” explained Miller. “If I were to just look at the form, I would have thought so. But I thought this horse was a graded stakes horse from Day One. Unfortunately, a lot of little things prevented him from being that [before], but he showed what he's about today, and I think you're going to hear a lot more from Roy H."

"I wasn't intimidated at all by this field. I thought that if he ran his race, he'd win. I just didn't know if he'd run his race, but he showed up today and ran his race. On sheets and on Beyers, he was faster than anyone. I said why can't he repeat that? And he did. We'll take him back to California and go from there."

Out of the gate three horses sprinted for the lead; Chief Lion, Green Gratto, and Holy Boss. The eventual winner was in fourth position running out wide. The pace was very fast as Chief Lion went the first quarter in 22.28 with Green Gratto a length behind and Holy Boss another length back. Chief Lion continued to set the pace with a half mile of 44.82. At that point, it was clear that Green Gratto and Holy Boss were not going to be able to keep up, but Roy H was moving quickly on the turn and had drawn even with the leader.

Coming home Roy H was moving best of all and extended his lead as Chief Lion also faded out of contention. Stallwalkin’ Dude was making his run from the back of the pack to pass tired horses and get second place, but he was not threat to Roy H who won by a final margin of 2 ½ lengths while tripping the timer in 1:08.59.

After the race, winning jockey Paco Lopez said, "He was ready. I didn't want to make the lead. I was in good position this time. I waited and let him go and he finished very well. I had a good break and the horse put me right there. It was an easy ride. He's good."  

The even money favorite, Whitmore, was in his usual position off the pace in the early going, went very wide, and made his move down the middle of the track, but just could not get there today finishing third 3 ¾ lengths behind the second-place finisher.

Whitmore’s rider Ricardo Santana Jr. said, "I was a little scared because he can blow the turn. I've always been happy when he gets a position on the inside of horses. That [outside] position doesn't work for him. He blew the turn today and that's why he lost the race."

With the win Roy H upped his record to 14: 4-3-1 and nearly doubled his career earnings to $294,765. Sent off at odds of 6-1, Roy H paid $14.80, 7.90, and 4.30 across the board. The $2 exacta with Stallwalkin’ Dude paid $83.50 and the $2 trifecta including Whitmore returned $213.50.