Mr Dumas Lands First Stakes Win in Commonwealth Turf
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Photo: Coady Photography
Mr Dumas outlasts Tracksmith to win the Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs
Trainer John Ortiz first viewed Mr Dumas as colt with stakes route potential on dirt, thinking he was a "Kentucky Derby-type horse." Instead it was another race on another surface at Churchill Downs that provided the colt and his trainer stakes glory when Mr Dumas prevailed in the $175,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (G3T) Nov. 9 over favored Tracksmith.
Originally a dirt sprinter, the winner scored under a heady ride from Joe Rocco Jr., who kept him reserved off a demanding pace on a drying-out turf course. Rocco allowed him to settle in sixth, five lengths behind fractions of :23.79 and :48.61.
Given a cue by his rider leaving the backstretch, Mr Dumas quickly advanced into third as frontrunners Spectacular Gem and Louder Than Bombs dueled through a six-furlong split in 1:13.13, and the gassed leaders were then at his mercy. He caught them in early stretch, getting the jump on those rallying from the rear half of the pack.
Tracksmith loomed in midstretch, appearing in position to threaten, but Mr Dumas, making his first stakes start, still had the energy to turn him away, winning by a half-length.
"He's a very special horse," said Rocco after notching his first Thoroughbred graded stakes win since November 2016. "Johnny and I, we all thought so from the beginning. It's been a lot of fun to watch him develop. Today was a big step up and he showed he could do it."
The winner raced 1 1/16 miles on a grass course rated good in 1:45.51. He paid $21.40 for a $2 win wager.
7-2 choice Tracksmith launched a steady rally from seventh to be second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Marquee Prince in third.
"I thought we were going to get past the winner, but the winner ran a game race," said Tracksmith's jockey, Brian Hernandez Jr.
Armistice Day, Spectacular Gem, Faraway Kitten, Louder Than Bombs, Proliferate, Tobacco Road, Knicks Go and Tiz Plus completed the order of finish. Osage Moon, Clint Maroon, Pirate's Punch, Journeyman and Clear Vision were scratched.
In winning the Commonwealth Turf, the only graded stakes race in North America over the Nov. 9-10 weekend, Mr Dumas banked $101,990 for owners Hooties Racing and WSS Racing. With a 3-0-3 record from six starts, he has amassed earnings of $211,160 while winning dirt sprints to turf routes.
Bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm, Mr Dumas is by Majesticperfection out of the More Than Ready mare Ready Love. He was bought by his owners from the Ocala Breeders' 2018 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training for $100,000 from the Ricehorse Stable consignment.
He had twice gone through the auction ring previously, selling to MJK Bloodstock for $4,200 as a short yearling in Keeneland's January 2017 Horses of All Ages Sale and then for $20,000 later that year to Ricehorse Stable, who acquired him at the Ocala Breeders' 2017 October Yearling Sale. Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned him in January 2017, Stuart Morris in October of that year.
"With the turf in his pedigree, we tried him on the grass," said Ortiz of a decision in September to change surfaces. "When he ran at Kentucky Downs sprinting, I never saw a horse with that fast of a closing kick. It's been a very special journey so far and I'm very thankful for everyone involved."
For Ortiz, it was his third career graded stakes win and second this year, following Honey Bunny's score in the $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) in May at Churchill.