City Man heads Clement-trained 1-2 in West Point Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Aided by a scorching pace that helped to soften 4-5 favorite Rinaldi, stablemates City Man and Therapist finished first and second, respectively, just noses apart, for trainer Christophe Clement in the $150,000 West Point Stakes, one of six stakes for New York-breds decided on Friday’s New York Showcase card at Saratoga.
The complexion of the 1 1/16-mile West Point became readily apparent right from the start when Microsecond, one of two members of the field owned by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher, was sent up after the speedy Rinaldi, who is always at his best when on the lead. The strategy resulted in Rinaldi being forced to set wicked early fractions – 22.99 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.35 for a half-mile over the firm course.
Microsecond retreated suddenly after five furlongs, quickly plummeting back through the field as Rinaldi briefly got clear on the second turn. But by that time the damage had been done, with Rinaldi proving vulnerable when challenged for the lead by City Man in early stretch. City Man, forwardly placed throughout under jockey Joel Rosario, struck the lead approaching the furlong grounds and then dug in gamely to narrowly withstand Therapist at the end.
Therapist rated at the rear of the field while saving ground during the early running, moved to closer contention on the rail into the stretch, joined City Man from the inside a furlong from the wire, but could never get past his mate.
Sanctuary City rallied from last to finish third while never threatening the top pair. Rinaldi had little left once settling into the stretch, ultimately finishing a disappointing fifth just five weeks after defeating open company in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple here.
The win was the first this year in four starts for City Man, who is owned in partnership by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles. He ran the distance in 1:41.30 over the firm course and paid $11.
“Obviously, there was plenty of pace,” Clement said after the race. “That horse of Jimmy Bond’s [Rinaldi] always goes at a decent pace. I’m not sure why the other horse was next to him like that. But both our horses ran well. I’d have preferred a dead heat, but that’s the way it is.”
Clement praised both his jockeys – Rosario, aboard the winner, and Irad Ortiz Jr. on Therapist – for the trips they orchestrated leading to the barn’s exciting one-two finish.
“I thought Joel rode an aggressive race with City Man, he put him in the race very early on, got stopped when the other horse [Microsecond] got tired, then went on again,” Clement said. “Irad gave a great ride to Therapist as well. He was at the back early saving ground and finished well. City Man ran a pretty good race when finishing second in the Fort Marcy, and I was very disappointed when he ran in Manhattan, he ran flat [finished ninth], and was not training well afterwards. It took me a while to get him back, and now that he is, I’m very happy.”
The win was the second stakes victory on the New York Showcase card for Reeves and Clement, who also combined to win the Funny Cide earlier in the day with the undefeated 2-year-old Senbei.
“I’m delighted for Mr. Reeves, he’s been a great addition to the stable the last few years,” Clement said.