NYRA/Chelsea Durand
By Sarah Mace
Up-and-coming sophomore Fish Trappe Road doubled down on his strong runner-up finish to Tom’s Ready in the Woody Stephens on June 11, when he charged home from a stalking position to score an impressive 1 1/4-length victory in Belmont’s Grade 3, $500,000 Dwyer on Belmont’s Stars & Stripes Day. The race, in its 99th running, is carded for 3-year-olds at one mile.
Trained by Bret Calhoun for Martin Racing Stable LLC, Fish Trappe Road (3-1 second choice) got away with the vanguard from his outside post under Luis Saez, but took back to stalk speedy duelers The Great Whiteway and Laoban, who clocked a first half mile in 46.47.
Along the backstretch and into the far turn Fish Trappe Road raced a length and a half behind the front pair in tandem with Economic Model, while keeping the favorite penned in on the dead rail. Midway on the far turn, he began his bid in earnest.
Swinging out three wide into the lane, Fish Trappe Road took command from new leader Laoban in upper stretch, edged ahead, and finished with gusto 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Economic Model, who finally made his way off the rail, re-rallied and nosed closer Tale of S’avall for second.
After six furlongs in 1:10.42, Fish Trappe Road completed the mile in 1:34.84. [VIDEO]
Jockey Luis Saez commented, “Very nice trip. He broke good. He usually breaks very quick and fights you the whole time. But today, he was so relaxed. He was perfect and he finished strong.”
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Bret Calhoun followed up with a comment on the race dynamics and high praise for Saez’ ride. “When the post positions came out, I felt really, really good. It gave us a lot of options out there,” said Calhoun. “He didn’t have to be pushed. Luis rode him perfectly. I’ve been playing this race out in my head for a couple of days since it was drawn, and it played out exactly the way I thought it would.”
Calhoun also observed of the colt in general, “He’s matured a lot. He was a big kid at two, played 24-7. Now, it’s all just coming together mentally and physically.”
At two Fish Trappe Road broke his maiden in his fourth start on September 11, and closed out the year as the runner-up after a pace-setting bid in the Sleepy Hollow. This year, off the board in the Grade 2 Lacomte, he won an open allowance before his eye-opening performance in the Woody Stephens.
For Fish Trappe Road’s next start at Saratoga, Calhoun is considering the 1 1/8-mile Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 30, or the 7-furlong, Grade 1 King’s Bishop on August 27.
A handsome grey son of Trappe Shot, and his sire’s first stakes winner, Fish Trappe Road was bred in partnership by Rhapsody Farm in Plymouth, where he was foaled, with Jon Davis. He is out of Electric Shock, a New York-bred stakes winner bred by Driver-Ferguson, who was purchased in foal by Rhapsody Farm at the 2012 Keeneland November ale for $22,000.
Electric Shock has produced six winners, including three more stakes performers, All Electric, Electric Chant and Electric Temptress. She has a yearling colt by Shanghai Bobby.
A $140,000 Fasig-Tipton New York preferred Saratoga yearling, Fish Trappe Road was purchased the following year at OBS March by Martin Racing Stables for $95,000. A winner of three of nine starts with three seconds, he has earned $518,185.
