Mr Dumas wins stakes debut in Commonwealth Turf

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mr Dumas was victorious in his stakes debut Saturday when holding off favored Tracksmith by a half-length in the 16th running of the Grade 3, $175,000 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs.

Trained by John Ortiz, Mr Dumas returned $21.40 as the eighth choice in a field of 11 3-year-olds when finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.51 over a course rated good. Tracksmith, a lukewarm 7-2 choice, closed resolutely but just could not catch up to Mr Dumas, who forged to the lead approaching the eighth pole under Joe Rocco after looping into contention from midpack. Marquee Prince was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.

“Everything worked out really well with the trip,” said Rocco. “When I needed somebody to be out of our way, it happened. The colt ran a really big race.”

“From the very beginning, we thought he was a nice horse,” said Ortiz, who trains Mr Dumas, a Kentucky-bred Majesticperfection colt, for the partnership of Hooties Racing and WSS Racing. “He’s taken to the turf very well. Both of his two races before this on the grass were outstanding.”

Mr Dumas began his career by winning once in three dirt starts prior to being switched to the turf by Ortiz this fall at Kentucky Downs. After finishing third there, the colt went through his first allowance condition on closing weekend of the September meet at Churchill.

“He’s a very special horse and it’s been a lot of fun to watch him develop,” said Rocco. “Today was a big test and he showed he could do it.”

Four horses were scratched early from the original oversubscribed lineup of 16, along with Osage Moon, who was a late scratch at 17-1 after throwing his rider in the post parade.

The $2 exacta (11-7) paid $109.20, the $1 trifecta (11-7-5) returned $473.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (11-7-5-10) was worth $334.05.

The Commonwealth Turf was the only graded stakes in North America this weekend when following the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup.