Capitol Hill rallies late to take Casa Creed Stakes
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Capitol Hill rallied from out of the pack to collar the favored Fond Farewell late when taking Sunday’s $175,000 Casa Creed Stakes at Belmont, for the Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning combo of jockey Junior Alvarado and trainer Bill Mott.
Sent off at 7-1 in the 14-horse field, Capitol Hill saved ground about eight lengths off the pace heading into the turn of the seven-furlong turf sprint.
Bonus Move led the way while being pressed by Fond Farewell, who assumed command in the stretch as Capitol Hill gradually made his way to the outside. Capitol Hill came widest in the final sixteenth and then kicked in strongly to win by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:20.66 over the firm footing.
Giocoso came from seventh to finish a clear third and Runnin’ Rocket nosed out Silius for fourth. Chasing Liberty, Gas Me Up, Piper’s Factor, We’re in Trouble, Intellect, Alogon, Spiced Up, Bonus Move and Rose Ruler completed the order of finish.
“I knew he'd be able to handle the distance,” said Alvarado, who won Saturday’s BC Classic on Sovereignty. “Today, I was just worried about the other 13 horses in the race because he is a horse that likes to come from off the pace. He had to get through traffic, but he was so good today that every move I was making, he was there for me. It made my job easier than I was planning for."
Capitol Hill ($16.88) was coming off a third behind Intellect in the one-mile Artie Schiller Stakes, and the inaugural running of the Casa Creed was his first stakes triumph. The Kentucky-bred son of leading sire Into Mischief banked $95,250 for Tranquility Lake Farms.
"I thought we were in a lot of trouble, but he found his way through,” assistant trainer Leana Willaford said. “He's a super-cool horse. It's important (as a homebred) for the bloodlines to get a stakes win.”
Flavien Pratt said he had a good trip on Fond Farewell, who was making his stakes debut for trainer Will Walden.
“He was comfortable where he was,” Pratt said. “He gave me a good run turning for home. Just got run down, but a good effort. He naturally showed speed - a good pace, I was comfortable where I was."
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