NEWS: RACING

Evaluator lights up tote board in Sleepy Hollow

Saturday, October 21st, 2017

NYRA/Joe Labozzetta

By Sarah Mace

In the $250,000 Sleepy Hollow for 2-year-olds, right in the heart of the Empire Showcase Day card at Belmont Saturday, R and H Stable’s Evaluator (Overanalyze) presented a perplexing case on paper, and was bet accordingly –  sent off at 19-1 to go a mile on Big Sandy in a full, talent-laden field of New York-bred 2-year-olds.

In the end, Evaluator made nothing of the question marks in his column, but rallied from well off the pace to put a game nose in front of Big Gemmy at the wire.

Part of the mystery was that Evaluator’s first three career starts had come on grass. The chestnut colt burst on the scene with an eye-catching last-to-first debut victory going a route of ground on turf at Saratoga on August 9. In his next two starts he dove straight into much deeper water, finishing no better than seventh in both the Grade 3 With Anticipation at the Spa and Grade 3 Pilgrim at Belmont on September 30.

Trainer Michael Dilger was quick to explain his rationale for trying dirt in the Sleepy Hollow. “[Evaluator]’s always worked very well on the dirt. We went to the turf looking for the distance. We thought that was going to be the most important factor for the horse at the time during the summer, then he ran so well. But he’s always worked well on the dirt, and it’s all about the trip for him.”

Still, with only mid-range Beyers to-date compared the competition in the Sleepy Hollow, and the outside post of 11, it is possible to forgive some skepticism on the part of the wagering public.

True to form, Evaluator spent the first quarter-mile of the Sleepy Hollow in last place, breaking well, then angling inwards to save ground. Meanwhile, virtual co-favorites Battle Station and Stoney Bennett hooked up and separated themselves from the body of the field by five lengths.

As the top two clocked splits of 23.07, 45.77 and 1:11.43, Evaluator picked off four rivals along the backstretch, moving into seventh, and came under a ride in the far turn. Upper stretch saw Evaluator fan wide and move up into fifth. Up front, Big Gemmy in third assumed the lead as the duelers weakened.

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

When Evaluator kicked into full gear, he inhaled his other rivals in midstetch, and drew even with new leader Big Gemmy in the final sixteenth. Digging in gamely to the finish, Evaluator poked his nose in front at the wire, stopping the clock in a final time of 1.38.38.

Inalienable Rights closed into third four lengths behind the top pair, followed in order by Stoney Bennett, We Should Talk, Analyze the Odds, Mr. Pete, Battle Station, Lover’s Leap, Engineers Report and Bourbonfuhrme. [VIDEO REPLAY]

Jockey Manny Franco, who had the call on Evaluator for the first time Saturday, said, “[Michael] Dilger told me to break out of there and let him be comfortable, because he doesn’t have speed early on. I put my head down and tried to follow a target and get a space to go and it worked out well. I was following [Joel] Rosario’s horse [We Should Talk] and it worked out well for me.”

Bred by EKQ Stables Corp and foaled at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, Evaluator is one of three winners from three starters out of Show Me the Carats, a Kentucky-bred daughter of More than Ready who was unplaced her lone start.

Purchased by Starlight Partners for $180,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2010, Show Me the Carats was picked up by Dan Hayden for $13,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton New York fall mixed/HORA sale.

Evaluator, who has earned $195,634 from his pair of victories, is a graduate of the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale, where he sold to Rick Higgins for $30,000. R and H Stable is named for partners Rick Higgins and Howard Read, who are also joined in ownership by Stu Richel.

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