Disarm catches Verifying at wire to win Matt Winn Stakes
Disarm ran down Verifying right at the wire to win the first graded stakes of his young career in Sunday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Matt Winn at Ellis Park.
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Joel Rosario, Disarm completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.59 over the surface labeled as sloppy.
The fleet-footed Bo Cruz was taken to the early lead in the Matt Winn under jockey Corey Lanerie and completed a composed quarter-mile in 24.46 seconds. Verifying and jockey Tyler Gaffalione tracked Bo Cruz in second up the backside while Disarm and Rosario were positioned third at the rail.
Around the far turn, after three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.05, Verifying drew alongside Bo Cruz while Rosario started to ask Disarm to pick up his best stride. Verifying took over the lead from Bo Cruz at the eighth pole but had to fend off Disarm, who ranged up in the three path to his outside. In the final stages of the Matt Winn, Disarm gamely pressed by Verifying to record a half-length victory.
“It was a little wet today, which is always concerning to see how horses would like it,” Rosario said. “(Disarm) seemed to like it and got over the track well. It was a very good performance. Steve (Asmussen) told me to get him into position after we broke from the gate and just let him handle things on his own. At the three-eighths pole I had to start to ride him a little bit to keep position, but he responded very nicely after that and continued to do so down the lane.”
Disarm, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, was sent to post as the even-money favorite and returned $4.24, $2.60 and $2.66. Verifying paid $3.28 and $2.82 with pacesetter Bo Cruz completing the top 3 and returning $4.20.
It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to fourth-place Raise Cain. He was followed in order by Denington, Go Solider Go and King Russell.
Disarm is a 3-year-old son of Gun Runner out of the Tapit mare Easy Tap. He was bred in Kentucky by his owner.
With his victory in the Matt Winn, Disarm increased his overall mark to 7: 2-2-2 and boosted his purse earnings to $760,700.
After dark days Monday through Wednesday, racing will continue on a Thursday-Sunday schedule at Ellis Park with daily first posts of 1:50 p.m. EDT.