Dataman recovers from shaky start to take Cliff Hanger

Dataman’s win April 20 in the Henry Clark Stakes at Laurel Park, his first since October, suggested the gelding had come back from his extended layoff a considerably better horse at age 4. The Cliff Hanger Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park confirmed it.

Dataman hit the side of his gate stall at the start of the Cliff Hanger, placing him last of six behind a slow half-mile split of 49.22. Didn’t matter. Saving ground around the turn under Jorge Ruiz, Dataman cornered for home and tipped outside pacesetting There Are No Words, favored Forever Souper, He’spuregold, and General Jim, running that quartet down in the final half-furlong to win by one length, going away.

Dataman came into the Cliff Hanger a solid 4-11 in his career and captured the $100,000 Bald Eagle Stakes during his 2023 campaign, but after these two races, the gelding is looking like a graded-stakes horse in middle-distance grass races.

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“I’ve ridden this horse many times. I know what kind of talent he has,” Ruiz said. “He seems like he is getting better and better.”

It does seem that way. Dataman was fastest home over the final 2 1/2 furlongs by more than a half-second and won despite racing somewhat greenly in the homestretch. Dataman had failed to change leads in the Henry Clark, and while he changed on cue Saturday, the gelding reacted to marks on the Monmouth turf course by jumping back to his “wrong lead” just as he was about to collar the horses ahead of him. Dataman attempted to lug in slightly, but Ruiz kept him on course and Dataman ($7.60) crossed the finish much the best, clocking 1:41.42 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm grass course.

There Are No Words, making his first start since October, ran to his solid 2023 form and held second, finishing a half-length in front of Forever Souper.

Graham Motion trains Dataman for his breeders, Wertheimer et Frere. The gelding is by Tapit out of Soldata, by Maria’s Mon, and under Motion’s patient watch, he is coming around nicely.

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