Big Everest takes early lead, keeps it all the way in Cliff Hanger
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A cliff hanger it was not, as Big Everest seized command just after the start, controlled the pace, and comfortably held clear Smokin’ T to win the $100,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
It was the fourth win in a row for Big Everest, the last three in stakes company, while jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. piloted the gelding in a race for the first time. Vargas said he worked Big Everest last week at Belmont Park for trainer Christophe Clement.
“He worked super good. I’m glad I did that. I got to know him a little bit. When you grab him, he gets more aggressive with you,” Vargas said.
Big Everest acted like a lamb for Vargas, who crossed his mount over from the outside post in a seven-horse field to make the front before the first turn. With a clear lead over pacechasing James Aloysius, Vargas guided Big Everest through manageable early fractions of 23.49 and 47.34.
Smokin’ T also was getting a good trip under Nik Juarez. Inexplicably favored at even money in a race in which Big Everest should have been the chalk, Smokin’ T raced in the second flight of horses while saving ground around both turns. He accelerated along with Big Everest around the turn, passing James Aloysius to take aim at the leader turning for home, but Vargas had saved plenty, his mount was willing, and Big Everest turned Smokin’ T away to win by three quarters of a length.
Smokin’ T was 2 1/4 lengths better than James Aloysius, whose trainer, Danny Gargan, had said Thursday that he was likely to scratch his horse from the Cliff Hanger. Sky’s Not Falling was up for fourth over Public Sector, who ran flat in his 5-year-old bow and was only a length better than 42-1 shot Sir Saffer. Manor House, who was 82-1 and didn’t belong in the race, was beaten nearly 30 lengths.
Clement, who trains Big Everest for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Stephen Rocco, and William Branch, has done excellent work teaching the horse to ration his speed and placing him deftly. Big Everest never had won beyond one mile until Saturday and after his Cliff Hanger win sports a 7-1-1 mark from 12 starts. Bred in England, Big Everest is by The Ghurka and out of Long Face, by Whywhywhy.
It has become a predictable script: Put the horse on the lead, let him do his thing, end of story.
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