Race Recaps Roy H Wins G2 Palos Verdes For Fun January 19, 2019 Race Recaps Roy H Wins G2 Palos Verdes For Fun January 19, 2019 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article ARCADIA, CA – Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen’s Roy H, making his first start since defending his Breeders’ Cup Sprint title last November, turned Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at Santa Anita into a total laugher. Breaking from the far outside post 7 as the 1/5 favorite under Florida-based jockey Paco Lopez (who flew in for the day specifically for this ride), Roy H settled comfortably as the field raced down the backstretch. Meanwhile, his Peter Miller stablemate Conquest Tsunami posted opening fractions of :21.44 and :44.35, just ahead of former Miller trainee St. Joe Bay, who won this race in 2017. Running three-wide into the far turn, Roy H cruised effortlessly alongside – and then past – Conquest Tsunami while Lopez kept an eye on the field as they faded from view. Hitting the top of the stretch still firmly in hand, Roy H drew off like a two-time division champion before Lopez geared him down inside the final furlong. His lead was long enough that despite crossing under a light jog, he was still 4 lengths clear in a final time of 1:08.89 for the 6-furlong sprint over the fast main track. “Peter told me he’d like me to be third or fourth early,” Lopez said. “He’s like a machine. You could see going to the 3/8 (pole), he was just cruising. He loves to run and I had a whole lotta horse the whole way. He definitely ran as good today as he did in the Breeders’ Cup. He was just incredible. He’s a machine bullet, that horse. Today, he jogged unbelievable, like always.” Kanthaka‘s 4-year-old debut resulted in a hard-fought second thanks to his closing stretch run. Conquest Tsunami faded to third ahead of Awesome Anywhere, while St. Joe Bay and Touched by Autism completed the order of finish. Distinctive B, yet another Miller runner, was scratched. Roy H’s win was a successful defense of the 2018 edition of the Palos Verdes and improved his overall record to 23-10-5-2. The 7-year-old gelded son of More Than Ready – purchased for $310,000 as a juvenile – increased his lifetime earnings to $3,139,765 and appears poised to take another shot at the Group 1 Golden Shaheen at Dubai; he finished third there last year. “We’re gonna try Dubai again; hopefully, we can get it right this time,” Miller said. “In the words of Chick Hearn, He’s as cool as the other side of the pillow,’ so nothing bothers him. Me, on the other hand, I don’t ship so well, but he’s an unbelievable horse … He’s something else, he’s a thing of beauty. Watching the race, I was not happy with Paco, because I thought he was too close, but he knew better. He’s a machine and I’m running out of superlatives.” Roy H returned $2.60 to win, $2.10 to place, and $2.10 to show. Kanthaka brought back $4.20 to place and $3 to show, while Conquest Tsunami paid $5 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