New York Raider Chewing Gum Ekes Out Hernandez Score
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Chewing Gum (outside) outgames Beer Can Man (center) in the Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita Park
As the 2021 New York turf season wound down, Chewing Gum gave every indication he was not looking for the bench, so trainer Bill Mott decided to send the horse to Southern California for the $251,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita. It was a good choice, as the newly turned 7-year-old eked out a nose victory over favored Beer Can Man .
"He finished up the year in good order," Mott said by phone. "Where some horses seemed to be tailing off, he seemed to be doing quite well at the moment. He was bright and his coat was good."
Mott also liked the race's distance, originally carded for Santa Anita's downhill distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs. After several days of rain, however, Santa Anita management moved the race to the flat at 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf. While the sun was shining, the turf course was listed as good.
"We liked the idea of the 6 1/2—we thought that was probably the proper distance for him," said Mott.
Mott named local rider Umberto Rispoli on Chewing Gum, who faced six rivals.
"He is the kind of horse that you have to kind of forget him the first part of the race," said Rispoli. "Mr. Mott gave me the instructions to be on the outside. For the first part he needs to find his legs and find his rhythm."
Umberto Rispoli celebrates his Joe Hernandez Stakes win
When the gate opened, Momos went to the lead, with Beer Can Man right behind him. Bran , making his first U.S. start, sat just outside the first pair in third. Rispoli, following Mott's instructions, let Chewing Gum settle into sixth, and that put them three wide around the turn and into the stretch.
On the turn, Beer Can Man dueled with Momos, getting the lead in the stretch, but by then Chewing Gum was in full stride. He and Beer Can Man battled each other all the way to the wire.
The margin between Chewing Gum and Beer Can Man was so small that those in the winner's circle speculated on a possible dead heat. But the photo revealed Chewing Gum the narrowest of winners, disappointing a big group of Beer Can Man's owners, the partnerships of Little Red Feather, Sterling Stables, and Madaket Stables.
Mott was pleased with Chewing Gum's effort, saying: "He did well. He had to work for it, but he got the job done."
Chewing Gum stopped the timer in 1:15.27, while Bran held on for third.
"I would say the ground really, really helped him," said Rispoli. "He really enjoyed that."
Mott trains Chewing Gum for owners Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Jerold Zaro. Wertheimer et Frere bred the son of Candy Ride —Shared Heart , by Forestry , in Kentucky. He became the 100th black-type winner for Candy Ride, who stands at Lane's End for a 2022 stud fee of $75,000.
Though Mott has trained Chewing Gum for the ownership through most of the horse's career, he actually began racing in California at Del Mar in 2019 for his breeders under the tutelage of Richard Mandella. Chewing Gum started twice for Mandella, finishing third both times, before Mott took over for the current ownership.
In his first start for Mott, Chewing Gum broke his maiden at Kentucky Downs in 2019. The Hernandez is Chewing Gum's first stakes victory, though he previously had several graded placings, including in a grade 1. Chewing Gum is 4-4-8 in 23 starts with earnings of $591,788.