Ride On Curlin eyes elusive first stakes win in Maxxam Gold Cup
Ride On Curlin has represented himself well at the very top level of the game, running second to California Chrome in the Preakness in 2014. But one thing has eluded him: a stakes win of his own. Trainer Billy Gowan would love to see that happen for the 5-year-old handicap horse, who invades Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night for the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup.
“Hopefully, he can get lucky and finally get that stakes win,” Gowan said. “I think he deserves one. As hard as he’s been running, I think he’ll get one one of these days. Hopefully, it will be in Texas.”
Ride On Curlin, who ran third in back-to-back handicaps at Fair Grounds in December and January, is part of a 12-horse field for the Maxxam. The 1 1/8-mile race for 4-year-olds and up leads a program of four stakes. Other highlights on the card include the $50,000 Jersey Lilly, in which Cassatt, a graded stakes winner on dirt, will make her first appearance on grass. In addition, Sam Houston stakes winner Galton and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint starter Marchman will meet in the $50,000 Bucharest.
Ride On Curlin was in a tussle in the $75,000 Louisiana Handicap in his most recent start Jan. 16. He finished 7 3/4 lengths behind the winner, International Star, and had anything but clear sailing in the 1 1/16-mile race.
“He was making his move at the quarter pole, and the hole was there, and he was going for it, and [a rival] came over and knocked him hard,” Gowan said. “He was bottled up for three-sixteenths of a mile and couldn’t even run. I hate to make excuses, but he had a good one in that race.”
Ride On Curlin emerged from the Louisiana Handicap in good order, and the decision was made to target the Maxxam because of its distance, said Gowan.
“His best two races have been at a mile and an eighth and a mile and three-sixteenths,” said Gowan, referring to the horse’s runner-up finishes in the Arkansas Derby and the Preakness.
James Graham has the mount from post 3.
Gowan, who trains Ride On Curlin for Daniel Dougherty, will be starting his first horse in Texas. However, he’s not new to the Lone Star State.
“My mom is from Texas, and I’ve got a lot of relatives in Texas,” Gowan said. “It will be like homecoming. I’ve got a lot of kinfolk coming out Saturday.”
Others in the Maxxam include Grade 2 winners Coup de Grace and Mobile Bay as well as Grade 3 winner Jessica’s Star and the multiple stakes-placed Freestyler.
Cassatt on turf in Jersey Lilly
Cassatt, who won the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic last season at Sam Houston, moves to the track’s turf course for the Jersey Lilly. The 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares drew a field of 12. Cassatt, a daughter of Tapit and the Giant’s Causeway mare Justenufftime, shows some strong works in advance of her turf debut.
“She has a very nice turf pedigree,” trainer Larry Jones said. “We’ve never had an opportunity to try her on the grass.”
Florent Geroux has the mount from post 12.
◗ Galton seeks his second straight turf-sprint stakes win of the meet in the Bucharest at five furlongs and is part of a field of 12.
◗ The $50,000 Texas Heritage for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf drew the shipper Two Step Time.