Blinkers Help Governor Malibu in Gander
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Photo:
Susie Raisher/NYRA
Adding blinkers for his 3-year-old debut, Jump Sucker Stable and Oak Bluff Stable's Governor Malibu earned his first stakes victory in his fifth career start, taking today's inaugural running of the $100,000 Gander for New York-breds on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Breaking from post position 6 at odds of 9-2, the son of Malibu Moon, sat in a comfortable second with Manuel Franco aboard tracking Sudden Surprise who set comfortable splits of 25.37 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 50.29 for the half. As the pair reached the quarter-pole, Governor Malibu engaged the leader, overtaking Sudden Surprise at the sixteenth pole and completing the one mile and 70 yards in a winning time of 1:44.78.
"They wanted me [to be] close to the leader because we knew there wasn't much pace in the race, and that's what we did," said Franco. "The blinkers helped a lot; he put me up there. I didn't have to use him or anything, he just put me close. He knew what to do."
Returning $11.20 for a $2 win wager, Governor Malibu boosted his career earnings to $149,600. Shipping up from trainer Christophe Clement's winter base at Payson Park in Florida for the race, assistant Christophe Lorieul was elated with the performance.
"I thought there would be a bit more pace coming into the race," said Lorieul. "When I saw they walked early and he was up front right next to the leader, I thought that was perfect. He was on the outside with momentum and just had to pick it up from there."
"Christophe [Clement] talked to me about this race since early January and he told me 'I will prep him down in Florida, but I'll send him to you here for the Gander,' said Lorieul. "Most likely he's going to go back to Florida now. Since his last race, he had been a little bit lazy so we added the blinkers to put him a little bit more in the race and get him a bit closer, especially on the inner track today."
Following Sudden Surprise in second was Taoiseach, Vincento, and Cards of Stone.
Source: NYRA Communications (Najja Thompson)
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