North County Guy makes supplement pay off in Unusual Heat

ARCADIA, Calif. -- A $25,000 payment to supplement North County Guy to the Golden State series of stakes for statebreds yielded a rapid return of $110,000 when the 6-year-old gelding won Saturday’s $201,500 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita.

The substantial fee was paid on Wednesday, the day entries were taken, and was the only way North County Guy could start since he was not nominated to the year-round program for $300 as a 2-year-old.

Not only did owners Bruce Sands and Nancy Messineo collect a six-figure prize on Saturday, but North County Guy is eligible to the statebred stakes program for the rest of his career.

Not bad for a $20,000 claim in August 2018.

“I never thought he’d be as good as he is,” said winning trainer Richard Baltas.

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, North County Guy ($10.40) closed from fifth in a field of 11 to win by a neck over 21-1 Heck Yeah. Acclimate, the 9-5 favorite, led in the stretch, but faded to finish third.

North County Guy ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:45.34 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“This was his distance and he did it,” Baltas said.

The race unfolded in a peculiar manner when 75-1 Cono tore off to a silly pace of 22.31 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.76 for a half-mile under jockey Ricardo Gonzalez. Understandably, Cono tired quickly on the turn, leaving Acclimate in front.

North County Guy was second, trailing Accclimate by 1 1/2 lengths, with a furlong remaining and looking every bit as a danger.

North County Guy, a 6-year-old by the Kafwain stallion The Pamplemousse, has won 6 of 28 starts and earned $366,647.

Ward ‘n Jerry finished fourth, followed by Brandothebartender, Indian Peak, Tropical Terror, Marckie’s Water, Margot’s Boy, Fly to Mars, and Cono.

The Turf Classic was North County Guy’s second win in three starts. North County Guy won an allowance race at 1 1/8 miles on turf here on Oct. 9, but was 10th of 12 at 13-1 in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 27.

“He’s a solid horse,” Baltas said. “Now, he’s eligible for the Cal-bred stakes for the rest of his life.”