Gucci Factor runs down Mo Maverick in Kingston

ELMONT, N.Y. – It was a widely held belief that if any horse was going to deny Offering Plan a third straight victory in the Kingston Stakes, Therapist would be the one to do it.

While Offering Plan failed in his attempt for a Kingston hat track, it was Gucci Factor, a stablemate of Therapist, who got the job done, running down the ambitious pacesetter Mo Maverick to win the $125,000 Kingston by 1 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Offering Plan, the even-money favorite, who nosed out Therapist for third. Rapt and Appealing Briefs completed the order of finish.

The win was the sixth from 13 starts for Gucci Factor, a 6-year-old gelding by Gio Ponti. He is owned by Shane Ryan’s Castleton Lyons Stable, which also campaigned Gio Ponti, a multiple champion.

“Complicated horse mentally, he’s not the easiest horse to manage,” trainer Christophe Clement said of Gucci Factor. “This is very rewarding.”

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Typically, in these New York-bred turf races it is the speedy Black Tide who opens a large lead and tries to lead the field on a merry chase. Trainer David Cannizzo said Black Tide is recovering from injuries sustained when he got loose one morning at Saratoga. Meanwhile, Cannizzo sent out Mo Maverick, who did his best impersonation of Black Tide.

Mo Maverick, under Luis Saez, opened up a 15-length advantage after while running a half-mile in 46.53 seconds over a Widener turf course labeled good. Jose Ortiz was in second on Gucci Factor, and said he rode the race like he was in front.

Mo Maverick maintained a 10-length margin after six furlongs in 1:09.96 before the others began to really make their run.

Ortiz and Gucci Factor made first run, and collared Mo Maverick with about 50 yards to go to gain the victory. Gucci Factor covered the mile in 1:33.51 and returned $11.20 to win as the third choice.

“I was riding the race like I was on the lead, I didn’t worry about the horse in front of me,” Ortiz said. “Yesterday, I would have been worried because the track was really hard, but we got some rain last night and it helped the horses that come from the midpack and from the back of the pack. I was very confident passing the three-eighths pole. I was waiting for the other horses to make their move for me to make mine.”

Said Clement: “Gucci Factor ran a really good race because they came to him [at the three-eighths] and he re-broke in the stretch.”

Javier Castellano on Offering Plan was fourth early, a few lengths behind Gucci Factor, and though he made a strong bid starting at the half-mile pole, he couldn’t keep up with Gucci Factor.

“I tried to make one run from a long distance to catch the horses and it was too much to ask any horse,” Castellano said. “The horse has one kick from a short distance, not from the half-mile pole all the way to the wire.”