Ridin With Biden rolls like a limo to win Greenwood Cup at Parx

Ridin With Biden took his seven foes gate-to-wire in the 15th running of Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup Stakes at Parx Racing. The 4-year-old gelding by Constitution notched his first graded stakes victory, finishing the 1 1/2 miles on the fast main track in 2:32.92 under jockey Paco Lopez.

Trainer Butch Reid’s plan was to take control of the race on the front end after noticing a lack of early speed in the race. Lopez followed orders and piloted Ridin With Biden to the front under a stout hold, setting moderate fractions of :24.73 and :49.51, with Brooklyn Strong and The Reds giving chase.

Ridin With Biden and Lopez took the field to the quarter pole with Magic Michael and jockey Frankie Pennington launching a challenge to their outside. They proved no match for the winner as he bested Magic Michael by a length at the finish with Brooklyn Strong checking in third. Western River, Forewarned, Bossmakinbossmoves, Fearless and The Reds completed the field.

The Greenwood Cup was the fourth career graded stakes start for the Kentucky-bred gelding, who is owned by Cash Is King and LC Racing. In his most recent start, he finished fourth in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park. Ridin With Biden returned $19.20 as the 8-1 fifth choice.

Reid said Lopez has a good rapport with Ridin With Biden.

“He really likes Paco’s feel," he said. "You can’t take too much hold of this horse, because he’ll run off with you, but Paco just did a tremendous job putting them to sleep down the backside and that was it. I thought after looking at the race that he was going to make the lead. I was pretty comfortable about that once he slowed down and I saw close to 50 (seconds) for the half. Then I felt good.”

Reid said being gelded this winter changed Ridin With Biden's demeanor.

“He’s a new horse now. He’s really changed personally. For all the owners out there watching, if you ever question yourself about gelding a horse, do it. Even if its late, you do it. I don’t geld too many 4-year-olds.”

Reid said he was not sure where Ridin With Biden would run next.

“We haven’t really looked at the next spot. It would’ve been the Breeders’ Cup Marathon years ago, but they don’t have that anymore, so we’ll find something.”

Lopez said the pre-race scratch of Double the Heart made his job easier.

“I was very happy," he said. "I saw the scratch. Butch said to go and do what you decide. He is no easy horse to ride, he is very strong. He rated very good. I didn’t see no other speed and I took the lead and got very good position. He gives me a lot of heart attacks to ride this horse. He is a classy horse, though. He does not want to give the lead up when he gets it. I liked my chances and Butch said he was ready to go.”

Trainer Jamie Ness said the lack of pace made runner-up Magic Michael's job much harder.

“I thought I was going to get him, but there was just no pressure on (Ridin With Biden). The other speed scratched out and we knew there was probably going to be no pressure on him and it was going to take a heckuva run to get him. We couldn’t get him. We tried. We had a perfect trip. We were just second best. Our horse tried. I am proud of him. Wish we had a little more pace to run at, but that is the way the chips lay. As soon as I saw the scratches and the other speed was out, I said this 5 is going to be tough to catch. Hats off to them.”