Ky. Downs: Somelikeithotbrown goes 1 better in Mint Million
Franklin, Ky.
José Ortiz was not about to let Somelikeithotbrown give up a lead in the stretch the way he did last year in the Grade 3 Mint Million.
“When he’d run a good second last year, we were going very fast,” Ortiz said Saturday. “He ran good today. The fractions were more easy, and he was able to hold on.”
A 6-year-old Big Brown horse who was the post-time favorite, Somelikeithotbrown (2-1) turned a loose, ground-saving lead into a 1 1/4-length triumph in this 25th renewal of the $1 million race that had been postponed one week.
Click here for Kentucky Downs entries and results.
Not bad for a horse who would not have been entered if not for the thunderstorm that wiped out the end of last Saturday’s card at Kentucky Downs. After winning the West Point by six lengths on Aug. 26 at Saratoga, Somelikeithotbrown would have been on too short a break last weekend. Already nominated for this race, he was entered Monday, still coming in off just a 15-day break.
“We weren’t sure about running in this race,” said Skychai Racing’s Harvey Diamond, who owns Somelikeithotbrown with David Koenig. “But we decided everything was going good, he looked well, and this was the day. It was our day.”
“The horse was ready on a short rest,” Ortiz said.
On a gray day with off-and-on showers, Somelikeithotbrown and Atone (3-1) finished one-two for Mike Maker, who collected a record third training victory in Mint Million. Atone might have taken the lead briefly in the deep stretch, although there was a friendly disagreement about that after the race.
“I put a head in front,” Atone’s jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. “My horse kind of put his head up, and the other one battled back, and he drew off.”
When told Atone might have led going three wide with a furlong to go, Ortiz said, “Did he? I don’t think so. Camera angle.”
Whatever the case, the pace was markedly different from the 2021 Mint Million, also run on a course rated firm. Last Labor Day, Somelikeithotbrown stalked and then set a pace of 21.83 seconds, 44.95 seconds and 1:09.10 before losing to Pixelate by 2 1/2 lengths. Saturday he clicked off fractions of 23.48 seconds, 46.93 seconds and 1:10.58 before finishing at a winning time of 1:33.88.
Somelikeithotbrown defied his own tactical history by succeeding with an inside trip. The fact he was not seriously challenged along the inside seemed to make a difference.
“If he gets in a speed duel, and he gets on the outside, he relaxes pretty nicely,” Maker said. “Usually, if he’s inside, and a horse presses him, he gets a little headstrong.”
When Atone did get close, Ortiz used a left-handed crop to get Somelikeithotbrown to deliver the burst of speed that punctuated his victory.
“He did dig it out that last eighth of a mile,” said Ortiz, a first-time winner in the Mint Million. “He had to. He came back to that other horse, looked him in the eye and came back to him, so I’m very happy.”
Mr Dumas (7-1) was in the middle of the eight-horse pack for most of the race and made a late move to finish third, missing second by just a nose. Field Pass (15-1), also trained by Maker, finished fourth. Gray’s Fable (18-1), Pixelate (3-1), Kentucky Ghost (8-1) and Cavalry Charge (11-1) were fifth through eighth, in that order.
Somelikeithotbrown paid $6.60, $4.32 and $3.14; Atone $4.24 and $2.96; and Mr Dumas $3.88 under Kentucky’s penny-breakage law.
Maker was not prepared to say what was next for his three horses. Asked about his plans, he said, “Get through the day. We’ve got a lot going on today. We’ll take it one day at a time.”
Somelikeithotbrown, bred in New York by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables, has a career record of 28: 10-6-4 with earnings of $1,647,018. He is an eight-time stakes winner, including victories in the 2020 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) at Saratoga and the 2021 Dinner Party (G2) at Pimlico.