Da Big Hoss Dominates in the American St. Leger
Entering the starting gate as the 4/5 favorite Da Big Hoss showed very few signs he was not going to be in the mix down the stretch in the 2016 American St. Leger at Arlington International Racecourse. From start to finish in the fifth running of the $300,000 Grade 3 Stakes race, the Mike Maker trainee showed us again that he loves marathon races and why he was so deserving of becoming the heavy favorite.
Raced over a distance of 1 11/16 miles on the turf, this contest developed as you would expect any marathon race. The field broke smoothly from the gate, all nine starters quickly fell into line and their positions remained idle for the opening mile.
Leading the way was Kentucky bred O’Prado Ole with Corey Lanerie in the irons of the Dale Romans trainee. As the pace setter the 1 ½ mile specialist led the field through race fractions of 50.96 and 1:16.26. Just behind him was Wasir and Billabong took control of third.
Settled nicely behind them in fifth place throughout the opening mile was Da Big Hoss, a very familiar and comfortable position for the favorite that was racing for his third consecutive win. Much like his last two times out in the Belmont Cup Invitational Stakes and the Dixiana Stakes, Florent Geroux did a marvelous job of keeping his horse in a relaxed position off pace but with plenty to call on when the moment was just right. As he also did then, Geroux began urging the big chestnut as they approached the stretch.
“He just loves to win,” said Florent Geroux. “He always finds a way to find the wire and it doesn’t matter where he is, when you ask him to go, he goes.” It was at the top of the stretch again that Da Big Hoss was moved into position and ready to take control. In the American St. Leger he took the lead at this point in the race, began to surge ahead with ease and crusied home to win.
The nearest threat was Clondaw Warrior, a 9-year-old gelding who has become well known for his performances in marathon distances and hurdles. The William Mullins trainee came rolling home after switching gears from as far back as eighth place at the one mile marker and sixth place at the top of the lane.
“He ran a lovely race. He was a bit slow from the gate, but the American horses are usually quicker than us, but he’s a very sweet horse and he ran a lovely race,” said Clondaw Warrior’s jockey Seamie Heffernan after the race. His conclusion was spot on because due to the slow start the Irish bred had too little, too late without another furlong in front of him. So, much like the remainder of the field, Clondaw Warrior was just another victim of the dominance Da Big Hoss was unleashing on the undercard of the Arlington Million.
Wasir, the German bred ridden by William Buck and trained by Andreas Wohler was strong enough late to hold onto third after running in second place position throughout the majority of the race before being passed at the top of the lane by Da Big Hoss and then again Clondaw Warrior in the final furlong. Finishing fourth was Montclair an Irish bred that has been racing stateside since last summer. Mike Smith was in the saddle for the Roger Brueggemann trainee.
The 2016 season continues to be a very good one for the Da Big Hoss and a continuation of his progression that began about one year ago. In June of 2015, Skychai Racking claimed the five-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid for $50,000. Since entering Mike Maker's barn a new chapter began and Da Big Hoss has never looked back. Coming in to the American St. Leger the son of Lemon Drop Kid has enjoyed the adventure of stretching out beyond 1 ¼ miles and company of Florent Geroux in the saddle. “His pedigree and his looks gave me the impression,” Mike Maker would say after the win.
It was a good assessment and a good eye as Da Big Hoss has continued to deliver ever since. Today was a triumphant return to Arlington Park, the same place where he broke his maiden back in the summer of 2014. The win becomes his fourth in 2016 and his sixth under Mike Maker.