Giocoso edges Chapman's Peak in Commonwealth Turf

The strapping Giocoso continued to signal that he will be a presence in the turf ranks in the coming year, scoring his second graded stakes victory as he overhauled Chapman's Peak by a head in the Grade 3, $300,000 Commonwealth Turf for 3-year-olds on Saturday evening at Churchill Downs.

Giocoso ($9.48) and Jose Ortiz were ninth after six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race, with Chapman's Peak, who had stalked pacesetter Outrunner through six furlongs in 1:11.67, about to edge by. Chapman's Peak, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., outdueled Outrunner into the lane, but Giocoso was rallying wide under his brother Jose. Giocoso was up at the line, stopping the clock in 1:41.47.

“It was a little anxious moments down the stretch but the good horses know how to get the job done,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said. “Jose was able to get him to relax down the backside and I was blessed to have a jockey that used his skills to do that and we got the job done.”

Behind the top two, it was another length to Outrunner in third. They were followed, in order, by Anegada, Montador, California Burrito, Plensa, Canadian classic winner Mansetti, Grade 1 winner and race favorite Troubleshooting (who had steadied in the first turn), and Flying Mohawk. The latter, who was keen early, was making his first start since May and his first since undergoing emergency colic surgery in early July.

Giocoso, meanwhile, added the Commonwealth to a victory in the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes in August at Colonial Downs. Since then, he finished second in the Gun Runner Stakes at Kentucky Downs, and third in the Grade 3 Bryan Station Stakes at Keeneland. His victory Saturday pushed his earnings past the millionaire mark.

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