Rebel With a Cause gives Robson first stakes victory in My Frenchman
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Rebel With a Cause rallied along the inside to win the $100,000 My Frenchman Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park, giving Lauren Robson her first stakes victory. The Florida-based trainer had never run a horse at Monmouth, but the New Jersey track immediately provided her with a massive milestone.
“It’s a great feeling,” Robson said. “I had so much nervous energy anticipating this race because I knew he would run well. Now it’s like, ‘Whew. It’s done. We did it.’ ”
Since coming to the United States from England in 2004, Robson has amassed an impressive résumé in Florida, working as an assistant for Jonathan Sheppard, Wesley Ward, and Jerry Hollendorfer. She also took positions working for the likes of Todd Pletcher and Richard Mandella before finally getting her own license in 2023. She has sent out 20 starters and won 16 of 98 starts.
Robson had only sent out one prior stakes runner when Rebel With a Cause shipped to Churchill Downs for the $225,000 William Walker in May. Though he demonstrated obvious potential while finishing fourth, he was clearly overwhelmed in a tough stakes debut.
Robson gave him two months off after that game effort and seemed to find a softer spot in the My Frenchman, where the gelding took full advantage in another 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint. He paid $11.40 to win in the evenly matched field of six 3-year-olds.
In his first race aboard the Florida-bred, jockey Jose Ferrer settled into a stalking position along the inside in the early going, chasing a length behind the pacesetter My Boy Star through an opening quarter-mile in 22.81 seconds. Rebel With a Cause didn’t hustle forward with Cairo Surprise when the even-money favorite made an early move for the lead on the far turn. The Cal Lynch trainee had the first crack at My Boy Star when he faded in the stretch, but he struggled to take command with the same authority he did against New Jersey-breds on dirt last month.
With a sustained rally along the inside, Rebel With a Cause gradually began reeling in My Boy Star and Cairo Surprise, who both seemed weary after charging ahead in the top flight.
“I had a great trip,” Ferrer said. “I was behind and I was able to hold the rail. It worked out perfect for me. Turning for home, when he switched leads, he just took off running.”
After saving all the ground, Ferrer clearly had the most horse under him in the late stages and eased Robson’s first stakes winner clear by 1 1/4 lengths, completing the 5 1/2-furlong distance in 1:03.90.
“He does have the speed to be on the lead, but we didn’t want him to get into a duel,” Robson said. “He had a lot of horse the whole way. This horse is game. Inside, outside, it doesn’t bother him where he is.”
Big Destroyer, a second-time starter trained by Miguel Clement, made a belated move from fourth but struggled to find a clear path down the center until it was too late. The 9-5 second choice took second by a neck over Cairo Surprise.
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