Ocean Road Rallies From Last to First in Gamely
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Ocean Road rallies late to win the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Jockey Umberto Rispoli was only a length off the leader, battling down the stretch at Keeneland when a bay blur flashed past him. Following slow early fractions, the jockey wondered what type of horse could close so powerfully into such a sluggish pace.
He soon found out.
After finishing fourth that April 15 afternoon, he was given the chance to pilot that torpedo-like closer in the May 30 $400,000 Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park when trainer Brendan Walsh provided him an opportunity to ride Ocean Road in the Memorial Day weekend turf stakes for fillies and mares.
Despite the towering presence of grade 1 winners Going Global and Going to Vegas , as well as graded stakes winner Canoodling , Ocean Road abandoned her Kentucky home base to take a shot at landing a top prize at the Southern California oval and came away victorious.
Away last in a field reduced to six following the scratches of multiple graded stakes winner Neige Blanche and England's Rose , Ocean Road ambled along well off the pace as the speedy Canoodling hightailed it to the front, paving the way through an opening quarter in :23.49, a half-mile in :47.81 and six-furlongs in 1.11.65. It was into the turn for home where Going to Vegas, second throughout the early going, struck the front as favored Going Global tipped outside of horses for running room.
Sweeping widest of all into the bend was Ocean Road, who, with a pace to run at, had the leaders within reach sooner rather than later this time as she set sail down the stretch. Although Going to Vegas was valiant in fending off Going Global, she couldn’t withstand the late rush of Ocean Road, finishing a half-length behind the 5-1 winner under the wire.
Going to Vegas was second by a length over Going Global, the 4-5 favorite.
The connections of Ocean Road in the winner's circle after the Gamely Stakes
Ocean Road ($12.20), a daughter of Australia , stopped the timer in a sharp time of 1:46.66 for the 1 1/8-miles on a turf course rated as firm.
“I think there’s some more improvement in her and I can’t see why she wouldn’t keep going forward,” said Walsh, who is based in Kentucky and flew in earlier today from Lexington. “Umberto had her in a nice spot and he was able to creep in a little closer going to the (far) turn. There were a couple nice fillies in this race and we knew we weren’t going to get by them too easy. She showed a nice kick and it’s always good to see that from a horse coming over here to run in this country.
“The guys that came out with her here to Santa Anita have been telling me all week how good she’s been doing, that she’s just blossomed out here. Today, she had a bit of a swagger about her. I knew she was going to run a good race, whether it was going to be good enough or not remained to be seen.”
.@umbyrispoli back in the @SantaAnitaPark Winner's Circle! He speaks with @BritneyEurton about his trip aboard Ocean Road, what it means to get a win for @qatar_racing & how it feels to be riding once more in California. Congrats! pic.twitter.com/OmMZPrDUJW
— TVG (@TVG) May 31, 2022
The victory was especially gratifying for Rispoli, who had only recently returned his tack back to Santa Anita after riding winless through 35 starts this past spring in Kentucky.
“I misjudged the time to leave California and go to Kentucky,” Rispoli said. “I can only blame myself. I have to thank all of the owners and trainers who gave me the opportunity out there. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out but to come back here and get a grade 1 win at this place (Santa Anita) which has always been home for me makes me very happy.”
Sheikh Fahad of Qatar Racing gave Rispoli his first group stakes winner in France 10 years ago.
“It’s very special (to win for Fahad),” Rispoli added. “Fahad always was a big supporter of mine when I was in France and even overseas a couple of times, he came to run in Hong Kong with some horses and I was always pleased to wear his colors. I would consider him a friend. He’s a happy guy and never complains. I’m so happy to be able to ride a grade 1 winner for him.”
Bred in Ireland by K. and Mrs. Cullen, Ocean Road began her career in England under the care of Hugo Palmer, where she broke her maiden at Lingfield Race Course as a 3-year-old before going onto finish third in the Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes (G3) and sixth in the Cazoo Oaks (G1). Ocean Road, a daughter of the winning Theatrical mare Love and Laughter, is a half sister to grade 1 winner and $2 million earner Wigmore Hall (High Chaparral ). She passed through the sales ring twice, first as a weanling to Emerald Bloodstock for $187,984 at the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale and the second time as a yearling, bringing a price of $192,196 to David Redvers Bloodstock at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when on offer from Lodge Park Stud.