Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
By Sarah Mace
Royal Posse, a May-claim-turned-summer-stakes-winner, did his connections proud once again Saturday when he captured the highlight of the $1.1 million Claiming Crown on Gulfstream Park’s opening day, the $200,000 Jewel Stakes.
A four-year-old gelding by New York sire Posse, Royal Posse was collared on May 31 for $20,000 by trainer Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Gary Aisquith out of a close runner-up finish going one mile at Belmont Park. He began to exceed expectations immediately.
Following the claim Royal Posse finished second and first in a pair of state-bred second-level allowance/optional claiming races, then became a Saratoga stakes winner in the Evan Shipman. The gelding followed up with a close second to Empire Dreams in the Showcase Day Empire Classic.
Rodriguez said when the Jewel Stakes was drawn, “[Royal Posse] ended up being a bargain because he ended up doing more than we asked him. We were just looking to win some races at Saratoga, even for $20,000 or $25,000, but he was training so good in the morning we decided to give him a chance in non-winners-of-2. He raced good in his first two races and then he won the stake [the Evan Shipman]. He ran a big, big race in his last race [the Empire Classic], so he’s been a good claim.”
Royal Posse’s outside draw for the Jewel, post 11 of 14, did not shake the confidence of the wagering public, who bet the gelding down to 9-5 favoritism to go nine furlongs over a sloppy (sealed) main track. He also had the benefit of returning pilot, Eclipse Award-winning jockey Javier Castellano, who, as it turns out, worked out a very clever trip.
Shortly, after the break, Castellano compensated for the difficult draw with a hustling early ride which allowed him to maneuver into the two path after the short run into the clubhouse turn. Castellano said, “The way I handicapped the race, there was a lot of speed. It was important to get good position because, unfortunately, I had the [11] hole. I had to save a little ground on the first turn.”
After traveling comfortably along the backstretch about seven lengths off a relatively hot pace (22.98; 46.35), Royal Posse advanced and snaked his way through a seam that opened up on the inside as the field approached the far turn, where he challenged the pacesetter and took over the lead with three furlongs to go.
Bounding clear and full of run, Royal Posse never had an anxious moment on his way to a decisive 2 1/2 length victory. He was followed across the line by stablemate Mr Palmer and Pletcher-trained African Fighter. After a half-mile in 46.35 and a mile in 1:37.79, the final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.77 over the off going.
Castellano said, “Everything worked out by the three-eighths pole. I was able to angle in and cut the corner and he gave me a good, powerful kick.” He added, “I was just the pilot. Basically, Rudy [Rodriguez] did all the work–he claimed the horse, he trained him. He does everything the right way and I think the way he developed the horse is fantastic.”
Rodriguez said, “He’s been an amazing claim since Day 1. He’s very, very sound. I tell all my owners we got very, very lucky to get him that day. I just have to thank Mr. Dubb for giving me the opportunity to claim horses for him.”
With his victory in the Claiming Crown Jewel, Royal Posse improved his career record to six firsts and six seconds from 26 starts and boosted his earnings to $442,245. Royal Posse will now get as much as eight weeks off before Rodriguez decides what lies down the road.
Bred by Richard J. Troncone and Richard J. Troncone, Jr. and foaled at Mill Creek Farm near Stillwater, Royal Posse is out of Struckbylightning, an unraced Kentucky-bred daughter of Cryptoclearance. She has produced four winners from five foals to start, including by stakes-placed Ampart Ridge by Cactus Ridge, who earned $176,000, and Fried by Freud, a nine-time winner of over $125,000. The mare’s most recent reported foal is a yearling filly by Desert Party.
