Wudda U Think Now gets Rodriguez off the schneid in John Morrissey Handicap
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- It took Wudda U Think Now 1:11.65 to cover six furlongs for his victory in the $125,000 John Morrissey Handicap on Friday at Saratoga. But for both the gelding and trainer Rudy Rodriguez, the road to the winner's circle felt much, much longer.
The 5-year-old Wudda U Think Now ($15.40) won his first two starts of the year, but had been battling a quarter crack since winning the Hollie Hughes Stakes on Feb. 19 at Aqueduct. He returned to form to give Rodriguez his first win of the Saratoga meet as the trainer had gone 0 for 44, with 5 seconds and 6 thirds.
"It's amazing," Rodriguez said. "I'm gonna sleep good tonight."
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Wudda U Think Now, a robust, heavy horse who took time to get racing fit, did not start until late in his 3-year-old season, and won 3 of 9 starts last year at age 4. The gelding opened this year with a win in an allowance-optional claiming race on Jan. 16 at Aqueduct, then won the Hollie Hughes by 4 1/4 lengths. However, he emerged from that with a cracked hoof which took time to manage.
"I could not get him right," Rodriguez said. "We patched him, we took the patch off. ... All the credit goes to [owner] Stuart Grant. He was very, very patient. When owners are patient like that, it makes our life easy.
"He's a nice horse. He's as solid as they come. We've just got to be patient with him and take it from there."
Wudda U Think Now made his return to the races in an allowance at Parx on June 21, finishing fourth. Even then, Rodriguez said, the horse was not in perfect condition, and required one more treatment cycle.
"We cleaned up the patch, and left it off without a shoe for maybe 10 days, and then put a [new] patch on," Rodriguez said. "And then he started training the way he was supposed to be."
Saint Selby broke from the inside in a short field of five for the John Morrissey, and led through an opening half-mile of 45.72 seconds with Wudda U Think Now and Trevor McCarthy sitting a length back. Wudda U Think Now began to edge closer in upper stretch, but Saint Selby appeared to have his measure, kicking away by two lengths. But Wudda U Think Now found another gear and ran down the pacesetter late to win by 1 1/2 lengths.
Reggae Music Man, the longest shot on the board, rallied from last to edge Saint Selby by a head for second. After the top three, it was 2 1/4 lengths back to Ny Traffic, who was never a serious threat. My Boy Tate rounded out the order of finish.