City Man has eventful trip en route to Mohawk triumph
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
City Man overcame a heel-clipping incident to win the $200,000 Mohawk as an odds-on favorite Sunday at Belmont at the Big A.
He proved 2 1/2 lengths best, with Cold Hard Cash finishing second by a neck over third-place finisher Sanctuary City.
The Mohawk was one of eight stakes on the New York Showcase card. It was for 3-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles on turf. The Mohawk’s counterpart for fillies and mares, the $200,000 Ticonderoga, was won by Runaway Rumour ($9.20).
City Man ($2.90) had an eventful trip from the rail in the Mohawk, as he was forced to check in the early stages while clipping heels with a rival. He quickly recovered and continued to ride the rail as Rinaldi reeled off fractions of 24.11 for the opening quarter, 49.33 for the half-mile and 1:12.98 for six furlongs. In the stretch, City Man fought his way through to the lead from the rail and quickened when clear. He covered the distance on firm ground in 1:41.66.
“It looked like [Rinaldi] came over a little bit and I had to take a little hold and slow down a little bit,” winning rider Joel Rosario told officials with the New York Racing Association. “He clipped heels for a second. He did great after that. He was the best horse in the race. After all that happened in the beginning and being on the inside, he did great. I’m happy just to be on him. He’s been stepping forward and it’s nice to see him that way.”
Christophe Clement trains City Man for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles. City Man is a son of Mucho Macho Man. He was winning his seventh stakes Sunday. City Man is now 8 for 25 for earnings of $871,800.
Runaway Rumour put in a determined stretch run to catch Finest Work for a head win over that one in the Ticonderoga. It was another half-length back in third to Spungie.
Runaway Rumour sat off the pace set by Mashnee Girl, a 58-1 shot who was clear through fractions of 23.83 seconds for the opening quarter, 49 for the half-mile and 1:12.65 for six furlongs. Finest Work took after the leader first and seemed on her way to victory before being caught by the surging Runaway Rumour. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.11.
Flavien Prat was aboard Runaway Rumour for trainer Jorge Abreu. The trainer added blinkers to Runaway Rumour for Sunday.
“The blinkers were Flavien's call,” Abreu told NYRA. “Last time, he said she is her own worst enemy because she breaks and takes herself out of the race. She always gave herself too much to do. I put a little cheater blinker on her to get her into the race early on, and she did today.
“She was laying five [lengths] off the pace, mid-pack, and I was feeling great. Turning for home, when she went, I knew that was her style. I didn’t think she was going to get there at one point, but then she kept on running. I’ll probably give her a little break next.”
Larry Goichman bred and owns Runaway Rumour, who is a daughter of Flintshire. She has now won 4 of 15 starts for career earnings of $424,530.
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