Somelikeithotbrown Proves the Best in Bernard Baruch
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Somelikeithotbrown earns a wire-to-wire score in the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga Race Course
Skychai Racing and David Koenig's Somelikeithotbrown went wire-to-wire in the $150,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course July 26 while facing a tough field of older turf stars, including the favored Chad Brown trainee Good Governance.
The 4-year-old Big Brown colt stumbled on the way back to the winner's circle, dumping rider Tyler Gaffalione, but both horse and rider were OK.
Third out of the gate, Somelikeithotbrown set fractions of :24.79 and :49.08 through the first half-mile on the inner turf course rated firm. He was followed by Halladay, who chose not to challenge the pacesetter, Good Governance, and stablemate Mr Dumas.
That order did not change until Halladay fell back in the stretch, allowing Mr Dumas to get up for second, giving trainer Mike Maker the exacta. Good Governance was third.
Somelikeithotbrown, an 8-1 choice, finished the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:41.32 with a one-length advantage.
"I was a little surprised down the backside when I was all by myself," Gaffalione said. "I thought there would be a little more pressure, but I was happy with where I was and how he was running. All the credit to Mike and his team. They had him ready today."
Last year, Somelikeithotbrown won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the all-weather track at Turfway Park. He finished the year with a fourth in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
He began his career on turf, finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) in his fifth start, and he returned to the grass in his first start of 2020 but finished last of 11 at Gulfstream Park. A return to Turfway put him in the winner's circle in his next start, and he also finished second in the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes at the Kentucky track.
Somelikeithotbrown came into the race off a third-place finish behind winner Instilled Regard in the Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T) going 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf at Belmont Park, where he set a quick pace through the first half-mile.
"I thought his last race, he went a little too quick and opened up a little too much," Maker said. "There was a loose horse getting him a little more in the bridle than what we wanted. But I thought it was a very creditable race.
"On paper, I was concerned that (Somelikeithotbrown) and (Halladay) might hook up, but Luis (Saez, aboard Halladay) took back a little bit and let us have things our own way."
Bred in New York by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables, Somelikeithotbrown is the only stakes winner out of the Tapit mare Marilyn Monroan. His fifth win boosted his earnings to $546,838.