NY-bred champion Somelikeithotbrown adds another graded stakes to resume in Bernard Baruch. NYRA Photo.
Melissa Bauer-Herzog/The Saratoga Special
Since breaking his maiden at Saratoga Race Course as a 2-year-old, Somelikeithotbrown has proven to be one of the most consistent horses in training.
A Kentucky Derby prep winner and New York-bred champion 3-year-old last year has already put together a resume most could only dream of and Sunday he added to it with a victory in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.
Third last time out behind Instilled Regard in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy at Belmont Park, Somelikeithotbrown showed that he deserved another chance at this level and his connections obliged.
In his first run at Saratoga since finishing second over this same turf course and distance in the Grade 3 With Anticipation as a 2-year-old, Somelikeithotbrown went straight to the lead and never looked back. Racing in distinctive orange blinkers, he opened a length lead going around the clubhouse turn with Halladay the closest threat.
Somelikeithotbrown pulled away down the backstretch to add another half-length to his margin on Halladay but that lead shrunk as they went into the far turn with a challenge. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione started scrubbing on the 4-year-old as they raced down the stretch and Somelikeithotbrown responded, opening back up on the field. A few rivals looked to threaten but Somelikeithotbrown put that to rest in the final sixteenth and won in 1:41.32.
“I was a little surprised down the backside when I was all by myself,” Gaffalione said. “I thought there would be a little more pressure, but I was happy with where I was and how he was running. All the credit to Mike [Maker, trainer] and his team, they had him ready. Every time I reached back and threw a cross and when I got into him a little bit, he kept on responding and giving me more, so I was pretty confident coming to the wire.”
From the first New York-sired crop of dual classic winner Big Brown, Somelikeithotbrown broke the $500,000 mark with the victory taking his earnings to $546,838. Now a three-time stakes winner with five wins and five other top three finishes overall in 13 starts, he races for Skychai Racing and David Koenig.
Bred by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables, Somelikeithotbrown is also a half-brother to Mission Impazible’s stakes-placed Jolting Joe. Foaled at Sequel Stallions New York, Somelikeithotbrown is out of the Tapit mare Marilyn Monroan, who raced for Hot Pink Stable, Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable in her eight-start career. Purchased for $255,000 as a weanling in 2010, Marilyn Monroan is from the family of champions Stevie Wonderboy and Big Blue Kitten.
