Texas Wedge gets first stakes victory in Joe Hernandez

ARCADIA, Calif. – Texas Wedge solidified his reputation as a turf sprinter in 2019, finishing third in the Mighty Beau Stakes at Churchill Downs in June and winning a lucrative allowance race at five furlongs on turf there Nov. 1.

To start 2020, Texas Wedge won the first stakes of his career in Wednesday’s Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita. Ridden by Flavien Prat, his first win of the young meeting with his 13th mount, Texas Wedge closed from fifth to win by three-quarters of a length over a fast-closing Double Touch, a 15-1 shot.

Sent off favored, Texas Wedge ($6.20) raced in traffic briefly on the backstretch before Prat placed the gelding in a stalking position. Texas Wedge had a clean trip through the final three furlongs, taking the lead in the final furlong.

“He broke on top,” Prat said. “I was trying to get some cover and I got a little squeezed. As soon as I got cover, I had a good trip.”

Texas Wedge was timed in 1:02.47 in the $202,500 Hernandez Stakes.

Double Touch was ninth on the turn and closed with interest on the outside under jockey Victor Espinoza said.

“He ran an awesome race,” Espinoza said. “It was a wild race. There was so much traffic in front of me. He had a strong race. I was happy with the way he ran.”

Bay Muzik, a 27-1 chance who drew into the race from the also-eligible list, set a solid pace of 22.09 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.60 for a half-mile. Bay Muzik led by a length with a furlong remaining and held third.

Blitzkrieg finished fourth, followed by Captain Scotty, Grinning Tiger, Tribalist, True Valour, Legends of War, and Carnivorous.

Carnivorous was pulled up by jockey Mario Gutierrez on the gallop out and was vanned to trainer Steve Knapp’s stable.

Gutierrez told Knapp that Carnivorous took a “few funny steps,” Knapp said.

Texas Wedge races for the partnership of trainer Peter Miller, Rafter JR Ranch, and Steve, Tracy, and Dave Kenly. A 4-year-old gelding by Colonel John, Texas Wedge has won 5 of 13 starts and earned $313,530.

Prat missed Saturday’s opening day because of illness and was winless on Sunday’s program and through the first seven races Wednesday.

“I had a few seconds and they ran well,” Prat said. “It’s good to be back.”