Rye adds to big month for Morey in Unusual Heat Turf Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rye gave trainer William E. Morey the richest win of his career in Saturday’s $200,345 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds at Santa Anita, a victory well-earned by the former maiden claimer.

Rye was forced to veer out near the three-eighths pole to avoid traffic and then rallied wide under jockey Kent Desormeaux to win by a head in a three-horse photo.

“I thought we were beaten at the eighth pole,” Morey said. “I didn’t know we won until the last jump.”

Rye’s victory is part of a remarkable month for Morey. Since the start of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26, Morey has won with nine of 14 starters. Coniah gave the trainer his first graded stakes victory last Saturday in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas.

“It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks,” he said. “I’m exhausted. It’s wonderful.”

Rye was ridden by Kent Desormeaux and closed from eighth in the final three furlongs to win the first stakes of his career.

The win seemed improbable with three furlongs remaining.

Desormeaux said he was tracking contender Camino Del Paraiso at the end of the backstretch when the rival clipped heels with Smokey Image, who was third at the time. Camino Del Paraiso recovered in a few strides, but Desormeaux took Rye farther out to avoid any contact.

“I didn’t want to run over him,” Desormeaux said. “I moved from four wide to the middle of the track.”

Racing wide on the turn, Rye was quickly in contention in early stretch. He was fourth with a furlong to go, training leader Camino Del Paraiso by 1 1/2 lengths. Rye closed steadily to reach the front in the final strides.

“I could feel him straining,” Desormeaux. Said. “He never gave up.”

Rye was timed in 1:48.01 for 1 1/8 miles on turf. Camino Del Paraiso finished a head in front of 45-1 Accountability, the second-longest shot in a field of nine.

The stewards conducted an inquiry into the incident involving Camino Del Paraiso and Smokey Image but did not change the order of finish. Flavien Prat, who rode Camino Del Paraiso, said his mount was largely at fault even though Smokey Image may have drifted out slightly before the contact was made.

“He moved out a bit, but when my horse switched leads he drifted in and was right on the heels,” Prat said.

“I made a nice move. I can’t tell if it cost me the race or not.”

Accountability was followed in the order of finish by He Will, The Big Train, Brandothebartender, Smokey Image, Tule Fog, and Summersimage.

Rye is owned by Joseph Morey, who is no relation to the 42-year-old trainer. William Morey claimed Rye for Joseph Morey for $20,000 from a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields in February 2016. A 5-year-old by English Channel, Rye has won 8 of 16 starts and earned $307,199.

Rye has earned $297,269 since being claimed. The Turf Classic was Rye’s first start since a seventh in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap on the Tapeta Footings synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields on Nov. 25 and was Rye’s third start after a seven-month layoff.

“We put a bullseye on this race,” William Morey said. “We made a plan to get a couple of races before and point for this.”