Conagher rolls in Housebuster Handicap, expected to point to H. Allen Jerkens

Conagher didn’t run poorly finishing second in the Iowa Derby. He tracked a hot pace, bid for the lead, but was out of gas when a closer passed him in mid-stretch. Maybe at some point the colt can succeed in route racing, but for now sprinting is what Conagher does best, as he demonstrated Monday at Colonial Downs in the $101,0000 Housebuster Overnight Handicap.

Carrying top weight of 123 pounds, including jockey Joe Rocco, and leading on the inside from just after the start, Conagher shrugged off pace pressure from Exxel and turned back second choice Old Homestead, who was getting two pounds, to win the Housebuster by 2 1/4 lengths.

Conagher now has three sprint wins at age 3, including a June 3 allowance romp at Churchill Downs that earned him a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. That would make Conagher one of the fastest 3-year-old sprinters in North America, a position he can try to cement later this month in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga. Interviewed by phone last week, Michael Tomlinson, who trains Conagher for Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope and Mark Farrar, said the Jerkens on Aug. 27 would be the goal if Conagher ran to expectations Monday.

A lot was expected from bettors, who made Conagher the 2-5 favorite. He did not disappoint them, paying $2.80 and running seven furlongs on a fast track in a snappy 1:21.01. Fractional times were 22.37, 44.44. and 1:08.26.

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Rocco has been aboard the colt, by Jimmy Creed out of You Should Be Here, by Niagara Causeway, in all four of his races this year after riding him three times at age 2, when Conagher had yet to find his way.

“He’s matured into himself,” said Rocco. “He’s a lot of fun to ride. The way he runs, I’ve learned the less I do the better. He’s going so fast, but he’s well within himself. As long as he’s in his rhythm.”

Old Homestead finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of third-place No Sabe Nada. Exxel was fourth followed by Logico and a disappointing Zatip. Editorial Comment, Scaramouche, Surfer Dude, and Unified Report were scratched, leaving a six-horse field.