Rhetorical shows off turn of foot in West Point victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Rhetorical passed his New York-bred stakes debut with aplomb on Sunday at Saratoga and now it is likely on to more ambitious tasks, perhaps the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland in six weeks.

That $1.25 million race, on Oct. 4, is one his connections will certainly consider after Rhetorical took advantage of a perfect trip under Irad Ortiz Jr. and showed a dynamic stretch kick to record a 2 1/4-length victory over Bettrluckythangood in the West Point. It was 4 3/4 lengths back to Conman in third.

It was Rhetorical’s third victory in as many starts this year and fourth from five career outings. He did defeat open company in a second-level allowance last out here.

Adam Wachtel, part-owner Rhetorical, said the feedback from Ortiz after the race indicates that taking a shot in the Coolmore Turf Mile is not a reach. It’s a race trainer Will Walden talked about with the ownership group before Sunday.

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“Irad said to me, you run him a mile where there’s some pace, he’s going to be awfully tough to beat,” Wachtel said. “We decided to take a step here, give him an opportunity against horses he was going to be a big favorite against to see if he continued on his path. I think he proved to us today that he deserves a shot against the top horses. Will always had in mind going to Keeneland maybe next so that’s a possibility. We’ll see how he comes out of it. I think he’s that good. His turn of foot is pretty explosive.”

Rhetorical got a chance to demonstrate that turn of foot Sunday as Ortiz let him run away from the gate before tucking in and settling behind dueling leaders Gem Mint Ten and Itsallcomintogetha, who were a half-length apart through a half-mile run in 45.98 seconds.

Itsacommintogetha took over from Gem Mint Ten around the far turn but Ortiz had Rhetorical ready to pounce almost immediately. Rhetorical took control turning for home and with two cracks of Ortiz’s right-handed whip and one of his left he accelerated powerfully to the wire. Rhetorical got his final sixteenth of a mile in 5.97 seconds and covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.71 over firm ground that did take a little moisture from sporadic showers. Rhetorical, a gelding by Not This Time who counts Gary Barber and Everett Dobson’s Cheyenne Stable among his owners, returned $2.90 as the favorite.

“When we turned for home, I’m cruising, as soon as we passed the other horse he put his ears up,” Ortiz said. “I wake him up, I went a little aggressive on him and he gave me a good kick and then I hit him and he gave me another extra [kick]. I felt like someone was on the outside, so I went again so he gave me another good kick. The way he ran today, I think he can compete with open company.”

Walden said he’s seen incremental improvement in many areas for Rhetorical, most notably his behavior in the paddock and pre-race. Sunday, he seemed settled in the paddock and calm enough in the warm-up.

“We just try to get him over on the turf course and out of the gate and he does the rest,” Walden said. “He does tend to look around when he gets out in front, I thought he stayed pretty strong through the line. I know Irad was happy with the kick he gave, they set a fast pace in front of him and he just took it from there.”

How much farther can Rhetorical take it? That’s a question that could be answered in six weeks.

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