Restrainedvengence breaks through in Oceanside upset

DEL MAR, Calif. – A pulled muscle forced Restrainedvengence out of training last fall. Earlier this year, the gelding tested trainer Val Brinkerhoff’s patience when his aggressive behavior in morning training contributed to losses at Santa Anita in May and June.

Those frustrations were long forgotten late Wednesday afternoon at Del Mar when Restrainedvengence ($24.80) closed from sixth in a field of 14 to win his first stakes in the $120,805 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf.

“I’ve been looking forward to this race the whole year,” Brinkerhoff said.

The 61-year-old trainer spoke with emotion and with tears in his eyes. Brinkerhoff co-owns Restrainedvengence with Bob Grayson Jr., who has battled cancer in recent months. Brinkerhoff dedicated the win to Grayson, who he said is free of cancer.

“It’s been uplifting to have Bob in there,” he said.

Ridden by Evin Roman, Restrainedvengence was fifth or sixth through the first half-mile, racing about three or four lengths behind pacesetter Calexman.

“He was very relaxed,” Roman said.

Roman, the outstanding apprentice jockey of 2017, moved Restrainedvengence to the outside of the leaders in the stretch and reached the front in the final sixteenth, winning by three-quarters of a length over 11-1 Afleet Ascent. Calexman held third.

“He finished very strongly,” Roman said.

Restrainedvengence was timed in 1:35.37.

Desert Stone finished fourth, followed by Move Over, Arawak, Texas Wedge, Heartfullofstars, Pepe Tono, Artie B Good, Respect the Hustle, Faversham, More Honor, and Shane Zain. Texas Wedge, the 5-2 favorite, was fourth to the final furlong before fading late.

Brinkerhoff won the second stakes of his career at Del Mar on Wednesday and first since 2011. He gallops Restrainedvengence on a regular basis and said the gelding can be difficult.

“We’ve put a lot of time in him and a lot of long gallops,” he said. “He’s got a great turn of foot and a high cruising speed.”

Restrainedvengence has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $154,290. Roman rode Restrainedvengence for the first time on Wednesday. The Oceanside was Roman’s first stakes win since he lost his apprentice status in early March.

“It was a great ride,” Brinkerhoff said of Roman. “I wanted someone with soft hands who wouldn’t fight him.”

Brinkerhoff said Restrainedvengence will be pointed for the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, a $250,000 race at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 2.