Western Reserve nips Greengrassofyoming in Diliberto Memorial

Marc Detampel’s Western Reserve ($10.60, $5.20 and $3.60) provided a quick return on investment for his owner and trainer Brad Cox as the son of Indian Charlie stalked, pounced and held off a trio of challengers to win his first start for said connections in the $75,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial on Saturday afternoon at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, the recent $87,000 Keeneland November purchase held off Michael Hui’s Mike Maker-trained Greengrassofyoming ($6.60 and $4.40) under Robby Albarado by a nose, with Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Maker-trained Granny’s Kitten under Miguel Mena another nose back in third. To that trio’s inside, and another half-length back, was local favorite Chocolate Ride, who failed to crack the top three under Florent Geroux in his first start in seven months for Cox and owner GenStar Thoroughbreds.

 

“I had a good trip,” Bridgmohan said. “There were two in front of me and I had the perfect stalking trip. When I called on him, he responded very well. He kept digging and giving me everything he’s got and that’s all you can ask.”

 

“He’s been working like a really good horse,” Cox added. “He’s a tough horse and showed that today. He tries really hard. We’ll look down the road at the other turf stakes here for him.”

Western Reserve broke from post seven of 12 and stalked the early pace set by Sky Flight and defending Diliberto winner Ibaka, who carved out fractions of 23.83 and 48.62. Around the far turn, Bridgmohan engaged the leaders through three-quarters in 1:13.32 before forging to the front at the top of the stretch. Pursued throughout the lane by Granny’s Kitten and Chocolate Ride, he outfought said challengers before holding off a late surge by Greengrassofyoming and hitting the wire in 1:43.25. Western Reserve won for the fourth time in 15 starts and earned $45,000 to increase his career mark to $211,795.

“I had a nice run (on Greengrassofyoming),” Albarado said. “I think it is a little short for him. I think the next race for him is a little further and will be a little better for him.”

“(Granny’s Kitten) ran a big race,” Mena said. “I had a great trip behind the winner and turning for home we thought we had it, but the winner just held on.”

“I had a good trip,” Geroux said of Chocolate Ride, who was seeking the only open two-turn Fair Grounds turf stakes the 6-year-old had not won. “I thought I had them when I split horses. He steadied a little bit and was maybe a little bit rusty. Hopefully he can move forward from this.”

“He ran an even race,” Cox added on Chocolate Ride. “He made a run coming down the lane, which is positive coming off the layoff. We didn’t think he was 100-percent and he should improve and the mile and an eighth next time should help him.”

Pumpkin Rumble, Glorious Empire (IRE), Belomor, R. Great Adventure, Oakton, Golden Soul, Ibaka and Sky Flight completed the order of finish.

 

Earlier in the day, the $75,000 Blushing K. D. Stakes produced a thrilling stretch battle between the top two finishers in last month’s Grade III Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs, with Richard and Bertram Klein’s Cash Control and Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Kitten’s Roar knocking heads through the lane. Cash Control gamely fought back after being passed in mid-stretch to post a head victory in the 1 1/16-miles event over the Stall-Wilson turf course.

 

Trained by Brad Cox, Cash Control was ridden again by her regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan and was rated comfortably off the race’s loose early leader, Freudie Anne, through splits of 23.44, 48.24 and 1:12.94. As that leader began to tire, Cash Control took aim nearing the top of the lane to briefly take the lead before being headed and passed by the Mike Maker-trained Kitten’s Roar under Florent Geroux. The race favorite, however, was not to be denied, battling back in deep stretch to stop the clock in 1:42.92. Darrell and Sadie Brommer’s Prado’s Sweet Ride was another 3½ lengths back in third under Francisco Torres for trainer Richie Scherer.

 

“She’s an ultra-game filly,” Bridgmohan said. “She dug in today. That horse passed her and she gutted it out. She’s a very nice filly and has been very good to me.”

 

“The filly in front was just super-game and kept going,” Geroux added. “I thought I had her, but she didn’t give up.”

 

The 5-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile earned her 10th win from 20 lifetime starts and crossed the half-million dollar mark in career earnings after the $45,000 winner’s share boosted her bankroll to $536,794, making her the highest-earning offspring of star broodmare Hidden Assets. She returned $4, $2.40 and $2.20. Kitten’s Roar paid $3.20 and $2.80, with Prado’s Sweet Return returning $10.20.

 

Uchenna (IRE), Whiskey Eyes, Nisharora (IRE), Secret Someone, Quest (GB), Freudie Anne, Selenite, Dynazar and Zeta Zody completed the running order.

 

Two races prior, Abdullah Saeed Almaddah’s even-money favorite Green Mask settled in just behind the pace set by Steve Vanovich et al.’s Latent Revenge before angling out turning for home to score a hard-fought neck victory in the $75,000 Bonapaw Stakes over 5½ furlongs on the Stall-Wilson turf course.

 

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Robby Albarado, Green Mask acquitted himself admirably in last month’s Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at about 6½ furlongs down the hill at Santa Anita and relished the class relief in the Bonapaw.

 

“He actually put me there within himself so I was very comfortable,” Albarado said. “[Latent Revenge] ran exceptionally well, because it took me a bit to get by him.”

 

Latent Revenge sped to the lead at the break and clocked off splits of 22 flat and 45.67 under Francisco Torres while maintaining a clear lead into the stretch. The Greg Foley trainee stayed on gamely but could not turn back the favorite’s class-dropping charge in the final yards while finishing a length clear of William Stiritz’s Scott Becker-trained warhorse Hogy, who closed resolutely under Joe Rocco, Jr.

 

"I thought we had it,” Torres said. “Greg had him right and he ran his eyeballs out, but he just got beat at the wire. Sometimes it's a big difference between five and five and a half furlongs. He ran a big race.”

 

Green Mask won for the fifth time in 21 career starts and earned $45,000 for the victory, padding his career bankroll to $600,916. The Bonapaw was the second stakes win for Green Mask and first under conditioner Brad Cox, who took over training earlier this year. The 5-year-old son of Mizzen Mast returned $4.20, $3 and $2.20. Latent Revenge paid $10.40 and $6, with Hogy returning $3.20.