Last Judgment Goes Gate to Wire in Pimlico Special

BALTIMORE – Last Judgment was the fastest horse out of the gate and led all the way around to win Friday’s historic $250,000 Pimlico Special Match Series Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

After the race winning jockey Jose Ortiz said “I thought I was going to get [to the lead], but I knew that if somebody else wanted to get there, I could sit off him, too. It was not like the last time, I cooked in front in 46 [seconds] and that cost me the race for sure. I had a good position. I knew that if he broke well from the gate I could get to the lead nicely. Or if he didn’t break well I could sit second. But he broke really good.”

“It was a nice job by Mike [Maker]. He had him ready. The horse relaxed well. When I asked him he was there for me. That’s all you can ask for.”

Modernist, favorite Fearless, and Cordmaker completed the order. Alwaysmining was the only scratch from the Pimlico Special.

Winning Trainer Mike Maker said “Very classy horse. We like the way he’s responded on that stretch out. Fabulous [claim] by these guys (co-owners Steve Hornstock and Steve Spielman).”

“He’s run well for us going a mile and an eighth. I was glad to stretch him out and hoped to get a softer pace going longer.”

“I was a little concerned about the outside post, but he doesn’t care for the dirt in his face, so he was going to be in the clear anyway. If someone was hell-bent on the lead, so be it.”

“To be honest, I’ve never really thought about anything further than today. But with a nice horse, you always have a lot of options.”

This is the 2nd graded stakes win for Last Judgement. The 5-year-old son of Congrats improved his record to 18-8-1-1 and has now earned $490,465 for owners Michael Dubb, Steve Hornstock, Bethlehem Stables and Nice Guys Stables.

Last Judgement returned $11.80 to win, $6.00 to place, and $3.80 to show.