Two Emmys shows solid form with Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes victory

Two Emmys has not lost even one-half a step.

The 7-year-old, a week from turning 8 and making his first start since February, set a strong pace and easily won the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Two Emmys earned $60,000 Saturday, running his career earnings to more than $985,000 for trainer Hugh Robertson, who also is the majority owner of this excellent gelding, along with Wolff Racing. Robertson has been expertly bargain-hunting the Keeneland September yearling sale for decades and plunked down a mere $4,500 to acquire this reedy son of English Channel and the Buddha mare, Miss Emmy.

There was no question Two Emmys was, in a vacuum, the best horse in the Diliberto. Two Emmys beat Bricks and Mortar in the final renewal of the Arlington Million at Arlington Park, called the Mr. D Stakes that year, and after a second-place finish in Fair Grounds’ premier grass race, the Muniz Memorial, in 2021, he won the race a year later.

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Two Emmys likely was headed for a Muniz repeat but stepped on something during the warm-up period for the 2023 Muniz, was briefly lame, and wound up being scratched from the race. Nothing went right for a couple months thereafter and Robertson wound up turning Two Emmys for an extended period.

The question, then, was whether Two Emmys was ready for his first race in about 10 months, and the resounding answer was "yes.”

Two Emmys broke from post 12 under James Graham, who said he hoped another horse would take the lead and take Two Emmys along. Robertson didn’t think that was possible, as sharp as Two Emmys was acting returning from his long break.

“He was going to be hard to get back off it today. He was wanting to get the lead. [Graham] said he didn’t want to fight him,” Robertson said.

Thus, Two Emmys surged off the first turn to take command of the Diliberto, going his first quarter-mile in a quick 23.61, the half in 47.60, a strong pace by Fair Grounds standards. Robertson said after the race that he didn’t think Two Emmys ever really relaxed, but Graham said he felt his mount take a big, deep breath going into the far turn.

“When he does that, you’re usually home,” Graham said.

Two Emmys took a two-length lead to the stretch call and never was seriously threatened, Beatbox running on for second, one length behind the worthy winner. Longshot English Tavern, who stalked the pace, checked in third, while Law Professor, surprisingly if tepidly favored at 7-2, finished eighth.

Sonny Smack, disputing the early lead, stopped abruptly on the backstretch, was pulled up, and was vanned off the course. In the homestretch, Duke of Carthania clipped heels and unseated jockey Mitchell Murrill. Murrill walked off the turf course, and following an inquiry, stewards made no disqualification.

Two Emmys paid a generous $9.80, running his career mark to 25-8-9-1. He was timed in a swift 1:42.03 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm course.

“He showed a lot of grit. He’s a good horse, and good horses can overcome bad trainers,” Robertson said.

Robertson is an excellent horseman. He has Two Emmys right again this winter at Fair Grounds. The Muniz is only three months away.

Tenacious, Richie Scherer Memorial

Two Emmys was not the only 7-year-old hero Saturday at Fair Grounds, where Five Star General won the $100,000 Tenacious and Just Might the $100,000 Richie Scherer Memorial. Both horses, like Two Emmys, were foals of 2016.

Five Star General has spent much of his career campaigning in Washington and British Columbia, and two races ago at Emerald Downs he won the Longacres Mile. Last of 11 in the 2022 Tenacious, Five Star General was second to none Saturday, leading most of the trip under Marcelino Pedroza Jr.

The early leader, Five Star General was passed around the first turn by Brigadier General, but after initially letting that rival go, Pedroza pulled his mount outside and Five Star General was in front again partway down the backstretch. Despite going a half-mile in a fast 47.42, Five Star General came into the homestretch full of run and held his two-length stretch call advantage to the finish.

Perfect-trip Pioneer of Medina finished second, while Happy American, who won the 2022 Tenacious and loomed boldly at the top of the stretch, was third. Five Star General was timed in 1:44.04 and paid $26.60.

Grant Forster has trained Five Star General his last eight starts for Eittaes Stable. Five Star General is by Distorted Humor out of Party of Interest, by Bernardini.

Just Might ($11.60) had lost 11 races in a row before capturing the Richie Scherer by one length over Sosua Summer. A prolific winner in 2021, Just Might won just once from seven starts in 2022 and came into Saturday’s contest 9-0-0-4 in 2023, but after disputing the pace, Just Might held clear a run from second-place Sosua Summer, who beat third-place Minnesota ready by a half-length. Just Might, trained and co-owned with Griffon Farms by Michelle Lovell, is by Justin Phillip out of Dynamite Babe, by Dynameaux. He was timed in 1:02.33 for 5 1/2 furlongs on grass.

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