Franco, Desert Stone a Winning San Gabriel Combination
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Desert Stone rallies under Geovanni Franco to edge Cleopatra's Strike in the San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Desert Stone has a mind of his own, but it is a mind that jockey Geovanni Franco understands. Franco, aboard for the runner's two previous victories, proved a winning pairing again with the 5-year-old son of Fastnet Rock Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park, guiding his mount to victory in the $201,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) over favored Cleopatra's Strike.
Besides getting along with the headstrong horse, Franco made astute tactical decisions throughout aboard the winner. Though Desert Stone broke inward and was last of seven early as Overdue set fractions of :24.26, :48.18 and 1:11.65 in the 1 1/8-mile turf race, he was always within striking distance, never more than 4 1/2 lengths behind.
As importantly, Desert Stone and Franco saved ground around both turns in the race, only needing to angle out at the head of the stretch to follow a closing Cleopatra's Strike. Then, given daylight, Desert Stone did the rest, finishing strongest and inching past Cleopatra's Strike for a neck victory.
"We expected him to run good today, and I was very happy with the way he ran from off the pace," Franco said. "I've worked him a lot, and he likes me and I like him."
Asked of the rapport the jockey has with Desert Stone, trainer Richard Baltas was quick to compliment the rider.
"Geovanni Franco is the only guy that knows how to ride him," Baltas said. "If you look at his form, this horse just likes that jockey. He does a good job, but this is kind of a different horse. You can't force this horse."
Away since a ninth-place finish in the May 27 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita, Desert Stone notched his first graded stakes victory after hitting the board in three such races. He ran second in the Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes (G2T) and third in the Twilight Derby (G2T) in 2018, and third in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) in 2019.
"He needed a break, like all horses need a break. You can't run them year-round. You have to give them a break at some point," Baltas said. "He was a little bit off form the last couple starts. I thought he needed 90 days (off). So I gave him 90 days and he looked a lot healthier, and obviously it paid off."
Desert Stone raced 1 1/8 miles on a firm turf course in 1:47.63, returning $16.20 for a $2 win wager.
Cleopatra's Strike, who carried four pounds more than the winner as the 124-pound highweight, suffered a tough beat in the San Gabriel for the second consecutive year. In 2019, he ran second, beaten a nose by Next Shares, another Baltas trainee who was ridden by Franco.
Cleopatra's Strike was still ahead of the rest of the pack, finishing 1 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Majestic Eagle, who won the American Stakes (G3T) in 2019.
Bred in Ireland by Arkle Bloodstock, Desert Stone was purchased overseas at the 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where owner Zayat Stables bought him from the Clare Castle Stud consignment for the equivalent of $374,233 in U.S. funds.
Out of the Diktat mare Starstone, he is a half brother to Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Garnet Stakes winner Handassa and a full brother to Euginio, winner of the Darley Stakes (G3) in 2018.
Desert Stone made his first four starts in New York for trainer Rudy Rodriguez before joining Baltas in California. His record stands at 3-2-2 from 16 races, earning $332,662, and he improved to 3-1-2 in seven starts with Franco aboard.