A timely Commonwealth Turf victory for Mr Dumas

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In just a few days’ span, John Ortiz said goodbye to one barn favorite and hello to the next one.

Honey Bunny, who gave Ortiz the second graded stakes win of his training career when she captured the Grade 3 Winning Colors in May at Churchill Downs, was sold Thursday at the Keeneland sale. On Saturday, Ortiz reveled in his third graded stakes victory when Mr Dumas, ridden by Joe Rocco Jr., won the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill.

“It was a very bittersweet situation,” said Ortiz. “We were happy with how everything happened with Honey Bunny, although you’re always sad to see one like her leave. And then we come right back and win a Grade 3 with a horse that we developed, so that was great.”

Mr Dumas, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred by Majesticperfection, earned a career-high 89 Beyer Speed Figure with his half-length triumph over Tracksmith in the 1 1/16-mile Commonwealth Turf. Owned by WSS Racing and Hooties Racing, Mr Dumas was making his stakes debut and sixth start overall on Saturday.

Mr Dumas will be among the horses that Ortiz, 33, will take to Fair Grounds this winter. He’ll also have a string at Oaklawn Park.

For Rocco, it was his first graded win aboard a Thoroughbred since Kiss to Remember took the 2016 Chilukki at Churchill. In the interim, Rocco won the 2017 President of the UAE Cup at Churchill, his third win in that Grade 1 race for Arabians. Rocco is closing in on 1,500 career wins.