Political Force wins the 2007 Suburban Handicap

June 30, 2007

Just 7,116 showed up at Belmont Park on Saturday on a sunny warm day with 2 Grade 1 stakes races on the card. The highlight race of the afternoon was the $400,000 Suburban Handicap (G1) for older horses, the race which Invasor was scheduled to enter until his retirement due to injury. Just six entered this 1 1/4 mile main track feature, including Met Mile winner Corinthian as the 3-2 favorite over Tokyo City winner Fairbanks at 2-1 and Birdstone Stakes runner-up Hesanoldsalt at 3-1.

Fairbanks set the pace most of the way around, through fractions of 24.29, 47.53, 1:10.69, and 1:34.90 while being stalked by Hesanoldsalt and Corinthian for the backstretch trip. 5-1 fourth choice Political Force sat back in fourth along the rail. On the turn, both Corinthian and Hesanoldsalt tired from the fast pace and faded to finish out of the money. Entering the stretch, jockey Cornelio Velasquez took Political Force between horses and he passed Fairbanks just before the 1/8 pole. Bearing out the length of the stretch, Political Force was still able to draw clear by 1 1/4 lengths at the line in 2:00.50 over the fast track. Corinthian finished last, 2 3/4 lengths behind 5th place finisher Hesanoldsalt.

Results chart

Political Force in Victory Lane

Winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez said, "He ran really good. I put him in good position and then I followed (Fairbanks). At the 1/4 pole, I had a lot of horse. When I asked him for run, he passed (Fairbanks). He has a lot of ability."

Political Force in the winner's circle

Winning trainer Allen Jerkens said, "He was getting late. He always lugs in, so I hope nothing's wrong with him. At least he got his Grade 1. We'll rest him up now. Maybe we'll try the Woodward, give him a little rest now and point for that. The Whitney, I would think we would skip that. He's never been a terrific Saratoga horse, but he's never been this good anyway. If you want to think big, we'll probably look for two more races and then the Breeders' Cup.

You've gotta think big."

Second place finisher Fairbanks

Jockey Richard Migliore said, "He ran his butt off today. We got comfortable on the lead, but they came after me early. But it took the starch out of the horses that were nagging at him, then we would do a little more and they would have to fight to keep up. If they left us alone until the 5/8 pole, it might have been a different outcome.

Beaten favorite Corinthian

Jockey Kent Desormeaux said, "He laid his life down last time (in the Met Mile), but today he just wasn't up to it. I can't even exaggerate. He didn't just slow down, his head came up in the air and said not today, I'm just not up to it. I banged on him a couple of times, but it was like spanking on dead wood, it wasn't there. It's unfortunate, because I thought we stole the first 1/4, then I just let him engage, but he wasn't up to the task."

Octave wins the 2007 Mother Goose Stakes

On the Suburban undercard was the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1). Just four 3-year-old fillies entered this 1 1/8 mile main track event, including 3-5 favorite Octave, runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks beaten 4 lengths by stablemate Rags to Riches. 2-1 second choice Lady Joanne came into the Mother Goose off a 3-race win streak including the Dogwood at Keeneland last out.

25-1 longest shot Bold Assurance led the field down the backstretch with Lady Joanne stalking her the whole way through a quarter in 23.53 and a half in 46.35, as Octave bided her time in third along the rail.

Entering the stretch, Bold Assurance tired badly and faded to last allowing Lady Joanne to take over through 6f in 1:09.94. John Velazquez took Octave three wide into the lane for running room, and the favorite responded, collaring Lady Joanne with a furlong to go and holding her off late to win by 1/2 a length in 1:47.19. It was almost 8 lengths back to 4-1 third place finisher Boca Grande, while pacesetter Bold Assurance was 38 more lengths back in last.

Results chart

Octave in Victory Lane

Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "That was a big race and she's a deserving winner. She's had a Grade 1 coming for a while, so it was great for her to do it. We thought Bold Assurance would go to the lead and we wanted to keep close tabs on Lady Joanne. Johnny did a nice job to get her outside."

Octave in the winner's circle

Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "She ran really good. For a four-horse field, it was a solid field. I knew I was going to have to be right with (Lady Joanne) and I was hoping my horse would have enough left, which she did. I didn't want to be too far behind (Lady Joanne) to make sure I was going to put pressure on her and it worked out good for me."

Trainer Carl Nafzger said, "I was very happy with the ride and very happy with the race. You don't run away from good horses, you either got to beat them or you can't beat them. We couldn't beat Octave today. Our filly came coming back and she was coming back at the wire again. Octave is a Grade 1 filly and we had to step up and see if we could run that."
Jockey Calvin Borel added, "She ran a hell of a race.

I can't fault her. We figured (Bold Assurance) would get the lead and we'd sit right behind her. When we turned for home, (John Velazquez) opened up a good length and a half, but my horse kept digging in and came back to her, but I can't fault her. She ran a good race and she'll step up to the plate next time."

Saturday's stakes action began with the $65,000 Say Florida Sandy Stakes for older New York-breds sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track. 3-2 favorite Big Apple Daddy was outrun early, racing a distant fifth down the backstretch and on the turn, then launched a four-wide rally entering the stretch to prevail by a length over 8-5 pacesetter Gold And Roses in 1:09.28. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 10-1 Yankee Mon in third.

Results chart