Plan B works out for Endorsed in Fred Hooper
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- After failing to draw in off the also-eligible list for Saturday’s main event at Gulfstream Park, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational, trainer Mike Maker went to Plan B with Endorsed, the $150,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes. And the hard-knocking veteran made the most of the opportunity, rallying to an impressive 2 3/4-length victory over the 23-1 Octane in the one-mile, Grade 3 fixture for older horses.
Endorsed had gone winless in in six starts since a solid fourth-place finish behind Life is Good and Knicks Go in the 2022 Pegasus World Cup until winning his 2022 finale, a seven-furlong allowance test here on Dec. 22. With jockey Luis Saez aboard for the first time, Endorsed raced mid-pack after getting jostled a bit following the start, fanned six wide rallying into the stretch, took command a sixteenth out, and edged clear under vigorous handling.
Octane, who won the final two legs of the 2021 Florida Sire Series at 2 and recently returned to peak form, turned in arguably his best performance in the Hooper, racing close up from the start before slipping along the rail to narrowly best Dean Delivers to be second. Miles D was never a factor, finishing seventh as the 9-5 favorite while making his first start in nearly a year.
Endorsed, a 7-year-old by Medaglia d’Oro, gave Maker his second consecutive graded stakes win on the card following Red Knight’s victory 30 minutes earlier in the Grade 3 McKnight. Endorsed paid $11.80. The final time was 1:35.67 on a fast track, good for a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
“A nice speed duel developed. Luis [Saez] had him in a nice position and he proved best,” said Maker. “He’s lost a few tough races, maybe now he’s finally figuring out how to win.”
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