East Hall finally defeats Wildcat Red

In order to call it a rivalry, both sides need to win at least once. After today’s $100,000 Millions Classic Preview, we can now officially call what East Hall and Wildcat Red have a rivalry. Storming down the lane from the outside, East Hall continued his upward ascent up the deep three-year-old division, with a decisive two-length victory over Wildcat Red in the headliner of a day full of stakes for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park West. For the chestnut son of Graeme Hall, the victory over his rival marked the first time in five tries that he got the better of the race favorite.

Having won the Ohio and Indiana Derbies in two of his last three starts, it was no surprise that East Hall could continue his winning ways, but first he would need to get past the rather large hurdle represented by Wildcat Red. Sent off as the 2-1 third choice, East Hall and partner Luis Saez were content to sit well off the pace early, while keeping a watchful eye on Wildcat Red, who was sitting a comfortable second early, behind the early speed of long shot I’m Steppin’ It Up.

That’s how they continued down the backstretch, as both multiple stakes winning three-year-olds waited to make their moves in the 1 1/16 mile affair. As expected, it was Wildcat Red who would strike first. Ridden by Edgar Prado, the 6-5 favorite went after the leader and took command as the field of seven came spinning out of the turn, but by this time, East Hall was uncoiling his rally from the outside.

Wildcat Red could not spurt away from the field, and it quickly became apparent that his previous domination over the dual Derby winner was in serious jeopardy of coming to an end. Sure enough, the farther they went, the stronger East Hall looked. He powered by his rival near the sixteenth pole, and strode to the wire a clear winner. His trainer, Bill Kaplan, was understandably proud of his charge after the victory.

"This horse is in tremendous condition,” said Kaplan. “It doesn’t matter where you put him, he’ll run hard all day long. The pace was fast and he was hung out there, so he backed off on him and he was driving on him from the three-eighths pole. This horse has a tremendous cardiovascular system. He’s a really nice horse."He beat him (Wildcat Red) this time. I think he’s improved all the way through the year. He’s had a couple bad races, mainly because of post position and being hung out and getting in trouble, every race he’s been in the clear in the stretch he runs down anybody.” 

Final time for the 8 ½ furlongs was 1:46.99. Wildcat Red narrowly held on to the place finish by a head over the Eddie Kenneally-trained Schivarelli, who was making only his fifth lifetime start.

The winner, called an “iron horse” by his trainer, made the Millions Classic Preview victory his fifth victory in 19 career starts. It also pushed the Hendricks and Justice owned gelding's career earnings over the $700,00 mark, with the majority of those monies coming this season, in which the stretch runner has won three times in 11 starts.

After winning three stakes races earlier in the year, and running competitively in some of the most important races on the three-year-old calendar, it might be time for a little rest for Wildcat Red. Today’s effort marked the third consecutive race where he seemed to have a less fight in the stretch than would be expected. The Jose Garoffalo trained colt, who finished third behind Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern in the Grade 1 Haskell, most recently failed as the even-money favorite in the Oklahoma Derby, which followed a fifth place finish in Saratoga’s King’s Bishop. Having said that, his runner-up finish today was not a bad effort. The improving East Hall was simply better on this day, and his year may not be over just yet.

"We may give him some time now or we may end up in the Clark [Handicap at Churchill Downs], who knows,” added Kaplan. “Anything’s possible. He’s that kind of solid horse."