Order and Law ends 11-race skid with Cougar II Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. - Order and Law was well into the stretch of Sunday’s Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes before trainer Bob Hess Jr. was convinced the 7-year-old would win the main track marathon.

“He does tend to hang at times,” Hess said. “At the eighth pole, I thought he was golden, but you never know until the wire.”

Order and Law ($31.60) took the lead on the turn, led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining, and won by 2 1/4 lengths as the fifth choice in a field of seven.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Order and Law ran 1 1/2 miles in 2:32.35 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Azul Coast (7-2) set the pace and held second, finishing 3 1/4 lengths in front of 7-2 Bye Bye Bobby. Kitten Mischief, Ghazaaly, Rimprotector, and Kiss Today Goodbye completed the order of finish.

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Kiss Today Goodbye, third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita in May, was the 2-1 favorite. Kiss Today Goodbye raced on the inside toward the back of the field for the first mile before rapidly fading from contention.

Desormeaux kept Order and Law wide throughout, a strategy that was fine with Hess.

“I don’t think he likes dirt in his face,” Hess said.

Order and Law ended an 11-race losing streak in the $126,000 Cougar II Stakes since a win in a $50,000 claimer at Gulfstream Park at Gulfstream Park in February 2022.

Order and Law was claimed by Hess for $62,500 at Gulfstream Park in May 2022 and finished fourth in the Cougar II Stakes in July 2022 in his first start for the trainer.

A winner of 8 of 42 starts and $456,804, Order and Law races for the partnership of Jeff Lambert, Larry Buckendorf, Lawrence Rodriguez, Paul Schneider, Peter Stotland, and Matthew White.

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