To Honor and Serve Steps Up in the Woodward

Photo: Joan Fairman Kanes / Eclipse Sportswire
The big question before the Woodward was: who will show up with their best effort from the three millionaire runners – Mucho Macho Man, To Honor and Serve, or Stay Thirsty?
  
To Honor and Serve and Mucho Macho Man both showed up to run their best races today. In the Woodward, To Honor and Serve prevailed by a neck after the two of them battled down the stretch. The final time was 1:48.56 for the nine furlongs and he paid $9.30 to win. Trainer Bill Mott said, “They have been beating each since they were two year-olds and we’ve traded win positions so I figured it was our turn to win.”
 
Jockey John Velazquez rode To Honor and Serve to an allowance win at Saratoga last year, but lost the mount to Jose Lezcano due to other riding commitments. Today Velazquez got another chance to ride the Live Oak Plantation runner and he made the most of it.
 
Johnny V. described the stretch drive. “He got to the quarter pole in hand without asking him to do anything and he when got to the lead he started waiting.  When Mike (jockey Mike Smith of Mucho Macho Man) came to the outside he dug in really well. I thought he was really going to go and gallop. Mucho Macho Man never got in front of me.”
 
After a very disappointing performance in the Suburban Mott put the blame on the extreme July temperatures, “I felt our excuse was the really salty weather in the Suburban and we decided to wait for the Woodward and the better weather and we got it.  He appreciated the better weather for the past couple weeks.”
 
The Woodward is a grade one stake that is a significant stepping stone to divisional honors and especially the Horse of the Year title. Here is a list of recent Woodward/HOY winners:  Havre de Grace 2011, Rachel Alexandra 2009, Curlin 2008, Saint Liam 2005, Ghostzapper 2004, Mineshaft 2003, Skip Away 1998, Cigar 1996 and 1995, and Holy Bull 1994. 
 

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