He's a Knockout edges upset-minded Party Animal to win Real Good Deal
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Rebounding from a loss in the lone two-turn race of his brief career, He’s a Knockout won his first start on dirt in Friday’s $152,500 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds at seven furlongs.
The win was not easy.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, He’s a Knockout ($14.40) set the pace and repelled a persistent challenge from the New York shipper Party Animal to win by a head. He’s a Knockout was timed in 1:22.71 after setting an early pace of 21.82 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.43 for a half-mile.
“He broke really well. The track has been playing” fast, Rosario said in the winner’s circle.
“I let him get up there. It looked like he was really comfortable. I let him do his thing.”
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He’s a Knockout, trained by Carla Gaines for Harris Farms, gave Rosario his third win on Friday, by far his best day of the summer meeting, which began on July 17.
Party Animal (26-1) was always within a length of He’s a Knockout on the backstretch and moved outside of the pacesetter on the turn. The two ran together through the stretch.
Party Animal, now winless in six starts, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 5-1 Ocean Bear, the champion 2-year-old California-bred male of 2025. The Real Good Deal was Ocean Bear’s first start since a win in the $177,000 Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar last October.
Start the Ride, winner of the $175,500 California Cup Derby in January, finished fourth, followed by Fumano’s Magic, Pavlovian, Lit, Fionello, King’s Ride, Southern Melodee, and Courtside Action.
Pavlovian, winner of the $500,000 Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico in February, was the 3-1 favorite. He stalked the pace on the backstretch but was not a threat in the stretch, finishing 6 3/4 lengths behind He’s a Knockout. Pavlovian was last of 18 in the Kentucky Derby on May 2, and seventh of eight in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 7.
He’s a Knockout, a colt by Smiling Tiger, was bred by Harris Farms and has won 3 of 4 starts.
He won his first two starts in statebred sprints on turf – a maiden race at five furlongs last August in his lone start at 2 and an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on April 19.
He’s a Knockout was the 3-2 favorite in the $127,500 Snow Chief Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old statebreds at Santa Anita on May 23, but he finished fifth by 1 3/4 lengths after racing near the front for the first mile.
He’s a Knockout has earned $176,200 for Friday's win.