R Heisman rallies past stablemate in Graduation Stakes

Not much went R Heisman’s way in the Everett Nevin Stakes at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., last month. The colt raced wide and was checked at a pivotal point in the sprint stakes, eventually finishing second.

R Heisman’s journey in Friday’s $101,500 Graduation Stakes was a much smoother outing.

Ridden by leading rider Juan Hernandez, R Heisman stalked pacesetter and stablemate Case Hit to the final furlong before taking the lead in the final 30 yards and winning by three-quarters of a length. Hernandez had R Heisman on the rail on the turn and moved outside of Case Hit in the stretch before taking the lead.

Sent off favored, R Heisman ($4.60) ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.05. The colt is owned by Gary Barber and trained by Peter Miller. Case Hit (7-1) is co-owned by Barber, Darryn Barber, and also Miller.

I’m a Bad Boy, a maiden trained by Luis Mendez, finished another 3 3/4 lengths back in third at 7-2. The Gypsy Cowboy finished fourth, followed by Last Call Zondlo, Bodacious, Timty, Nap, and Infamous Angel.

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Case Hit set an early pace of 21.26 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.82 for a half-mile, seemingly holding an insurmountable lead until R Heisman launched his late rally.

The Graduation Stakes was restricted to 2-year-olds bred in California or by California-based sires.

A Kentucky-bred, R Heisman is by Far From Over, who stood at Gray Farms in Northern California. Far From Over died of the effects of a seizure in the summer of 2021 at the age of 9.

R Heisman has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $115,200. The colt was second in his debut behind Bodacious on May 3 at Santa Anita, when trained by Mendez. R Heisman was bought privately by Barber and moved to Miller’s stable later that month.

R Heisman won his debut for Miller in a maiden race for California-breds on May 31 at Santa Anita.

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