Proxy takes decisive Monmouth Cup triumph
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OCEANPORT, New Jersey – Sometimes, after fooling around for half his race, Proxy gets running too late. Other times, he doesn’t feel like running at all.
On Saturday at Monmouth Park, Proxy, the 1-2 favorite, easily was the fastest, most accomplished horse in the Monmouth Cup. He took a comfortable lead to the half-mile pole, but no matter – Proxy’s gonna Proxy. It was only after being headed at the three-sixteenths pole by an inferior foe, Whelen Springs, that Proxy decided to get serious. By the furlong grounds he had forged back in front, and at the wire Proxy was a decisive winner of the Grade 3, $400,000 Monmouth Cup.
Michael Stidham, who trains Proxy for his breeder, Godolphin, thought he was beat in upper stretch. Joel Rosario, who has become Proxy’s regular rider, had a better feeling.
“I know he always fights. I never give up because it always looks like he has more left,” Rosario said.
Proxy had enough. Winner of the Grade 1 Clark last fall and the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in May, Proxy rebounded from an eighth-place finish just three weeks ago at Ellis Park to come through at $2.80. He was timed in 1:49.99 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast track, beating Whelen Springs by 2 1/2 lengths and getting a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
Arkansas-bred Whelen Springs ran very well in defeat, finishing nearly five lengths in front of Brooklyn Stakes winner Calibrate one start capturing a one-mile third-level allowance race here after his new trainer, Lindsay Schultz, stretched the horse out from sprints.
“I guess it’s just the longer distances. To run second to that horse is incredible,” said Schulzt, who trains Whelen Springs for the Shortleaf Stable.
No one was more surprised than Stidham when Proxy, who has become a dedicated closer, wound up leading into the first turn. Proxy went along through moderate splits of 23.80 and 48.13, Calibrate coming alongside to pressure the surprising leader around the far turn. Whelen Springs sat a perfect trip just behind those two, came around them at the quarter pole, and appeared to poke his head in front before the three sixteenths. Proxy, quirky as he is, was just too much horse.
By Tapit out of Panty Raid, by Include, Proxy went over $2 million in earnings with his $240,000 share of the purse. Proxy now is a six-time winner from 18 starts – and he has not done it the easy way.
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