Aging Apprehender triumphs in Ed Skinner Stakes

Cancel the reservation at the seniors home.

Apprehender still has racing on his mind.

The 9-year-old gelding is just not acting his age, and on Saturday at Prairie Meadows he got up in the shadow of the wire to beat Welder by a head and win the $65,000 Ed Skinner Memorial Stakes.

Apprehender twice had finished second in the six-furlong race for older horses (this guy definitely qualified) and somehow managed to go one place better this season. He had help from a crushing early pace as a contested half-mile split in 44.11 seconds took all the starch out of the pace horses. Apprehender and jockey Alex Birzere were last of six at the first call, fifth at the second call, still fourth at the stretch call, but home by a narrow margin over Welder, who transferred his strong Will Rogers Downs form from this spring and ran too well to lose, nearly overcoming a slow break from post 1.

Bourbon Cowboy, another off-the-pace horse, finished third, followed by Cashel Rock, 13-10 favorite Eurobond, and Wildwood Dejavu, who dueled Eurobond into meek submission. Wing’s Locked Up and Malibu Max were scratched. Apprehender was timed in 1:09.18 on a fast track and paid $11.80 winning his second race in a row.

Gene Jacquot has the privilege of training this ageless wonder for owner Dream Farm. Apprehender, by Posse out of Missy’s Mirage, by Stop the Music. His career record now stands at 11-13-8 from 44 starts, and from all appearances, and despite his age, he evidently is not done yet.