Race Recaps Matrooh Motors Home in G3 Hanshin Cup May 12, 2018 Race Recaps Matrooh Motors Home in G3 Hanshin Cup May 12, 2018 By: Press Release email Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Crystal Racing Enterprises and Contreras Stable’s Matrooh motored home in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Hanshin Cup, to give trainer Cipriano Contreras and jockey Santo Sanjur the first graded stakes wins of their careers. Goneghost lugged in at the start but recovered and raced out for the lead with an opening quarter of :23.95, then continued to run strong through fractions of :46.54, 1:10.96, and 1:23.58 while putting distance between himself and the rest of the field. Sanjur sat patiently on the eventual winner, opting out of the running early before making up ground on the final turn. Coming into the stretch, Matrooh was angled to a clear path and closed quickly in the final stages to secure the win by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:36.43 for the mile-long event over the synthetic racing surface. “I’m so happy to come back to Arlington,” Sanjur said in the winner’s circle after the race. “I just let him break, and he broke really well. It was easy after that. I knew that I had a lot of horse at the finish.” Goneghost settled for second, 5 lengths better than Western Elegance. Master Merion was bet down to the post-time favorite, but the turf stakes winner had an awkward start under Corey Nakatani, who had flown in from California to ride. After recovering from the break, the duo tried to match stride with the pacesetters but had to settle for fourth. “I let him try to be comfortable where he was at, but he seemed a little bit dull,” Nakatani said. “He wasn’t a disgrace; he ran pretty good.” Great Wide Open, Ghost Hunter, Christian C, Harmac, and Crewman completed the order of finish. Wellabled was scratched. Matrooh’s win improved his career record to 22-7-1-3 with career earnings of $419,429. The 8-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor had one prior stakes score on his resume, having won the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap at Belmont Park on Halloween in 2015. Matrooh returned $19.60 to win, $9.20 to place, and $6.20 to show. Goneghost brought back $4.80 to place and $3.60 to show, while Western Elegance paid $7.80 to show.
Kentucky Downs and Del Mar Picks & Previews | Blinkers Off 683 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for this weekend’s… Read More
Kentucky Downs Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 565 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
College Football Picks & NFL Tips | Dudes Who Bet Sports 205 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Pacific Classic 2024 Picks and Rapid-Fire | Blinkers Off 682 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for Saturday’s $1… Read More
Del Mar Pick 5 Preview | The Magic Mike Show 564 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
Kentucky Downs Picks | Turf Sprint Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint] Aaron previews the 2024 Turf Sprint Stakes (G2) at Kentucky… Read More
Kentucky Downs FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Kentucky Downs on September… Read More
Del Mar FREE Win Picks | September 7, 2024 Get our FREE win picks at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club… Read More
Kentucky Downs Exacta Picks & Plays | Turf Cup Stakes 2024 [Breeders’ Cup Turf] Dr. Miranda gives her exacta picks & plays from the… Read More
Rocket Picks 🚀: Del Mar, Kentucky Downs, & Gulfstream Park for September 7, 2024 Let’s kick off another big day of horse racing with… Read More