NEWS: RACING

Royal Posse all determination in Alydar score

Sunday, August 7th, 2016
NYRA/Adam Coglianese

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

By Sarah Mace

Five-year-old Royal Posse, a gelded son of New York-sire Posse, has become a byword for competitive spirit, consistency and the will to win. First or second in his last 11 races, dating back to May 2015, the bay put all his sterling qualities on display at the Spa on Sunday, when he wore down the frontrunner and long-time leader Touchofstarquality in the final 100 yards to win the $100,000 Alydar Stakes for 4-year-olds and up.

With three wins and a second in Saratoga in five starts, and five wins and two seconds at the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Alydar to his credit, Royal Posse came into the race off a second-place finish to Wake Up in Malibu in the Belmont’s Saginaw on July 8, which in retrospect can only flatter the winner.

Sent to the post at 5-1 odds in a seven-horse field that seemed well-matched behind unbeaten Pletcher-trainee Far From Over — bet down to 4-5 favoritism — Royal Posse was partnered for the race with leading Saratoga jockey and regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr.

After the break, favorite Far From Over got off last, while Royal Posse set up in third behind the pacesetter, the imposing, powerfully-built Touchofstarquality.

The gelding got a ground-saving trip, trading second and third with 47-1 longshot Natchez for the first three-quarters of mile, as the fractions clicked off in a reasonable 24.36, 48.77 and 1:13.86. Ortiz switched him out into the two path for the drive, asked for more and got it.

Now solidly in second as Natchez faded, Royal Posse began to erode Touchofstarquality’s lead. With a length and half still to make up in the final furlong, Royal Posse dug deep and took over within the final sixteenth. He won by 1 1/4 in a final time of 1:49.93. [VIDEO]

Irad Ortiz, Jr., was delighted. “The horse loves Saratoga and the two turns. You can see it today. He’s a winning horse.” As to race strategy, following a more delayed rally last out in the runner-up finish in the Commentator, Ortiz said, “I just wanted to be a little closer [to the pace] and he put me there. He’s a fighter. He always shows up.”

Rudy Rodriguez, who trains the gelding for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Gary Aisquith, said, “Our horse broke very, very good today and he was chasing the horse in front. We know he loves the mile-and-an-eighth and we know he loves Saratoga, so that’s why we tried to point him for this race and it paid off. He’s a very, very honest horse and he always tries.”

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

NYRA/Chelsea Durand

Rodriguez collared Royal Posse for his owners for $20,000 out of a close runner-up finish going one mile at Belmont Park on May 31, 2015. He began to exceed expectations immediately, becoming a Saratoga stakes winner in the 2015 Evan Shipman and following up with a close second to Empire Dreams in the Empire Classic. Since then, Royal Posse has kept competitive company and never finished out of the exacta. Perhaps his most impressive performance came with his victory in the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel in the slop at Gulfstream in December 2015.

Continued Rodriguez, “The last couple times we ran him over here at Saratoga, he grinds the horses down, especially when he has a target. He gives everything he has and he showed it today. That’s why we claimed him because we know he wants to go a mile and an eighth and he really showed that he wants to be a two-turn horse.”

Rodriguez added, “We’re just very lucky to have him. He never missed an oat since we got him. We just have to thank Mr. [Michael] Dubb for the opportunity to train the horses. Everything worked out pretty good.”

Royal Posse, whose career record now stands at eight wins and 10 seconds in 31 starts has earned the lofty sum of $661,245

Bred by Richard J. Troncone Senior and Junior, and foaled at Mill Creek Farm near Stillwater, Royal Posse is one of four winners from six starters out of Struckbylightning, an unraced Kentucky-bred daughter of Cryptoclearance. Her one other black type performer is Ampart Ridge by Cactus Ridge, who earned $176,000.  The mare’s most recent reported foal is a 2-year-old filly by Desert Party who has not started.

 

Leave a Reply