Talco Upsets Shoemaker Mile

Hronis Racing's Talco earned his sought-after grade I win in the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) June 13 at Santa Anita Park, upsetting even-money favorite Midnight Storm by half a length to take the turf test at odds of 13-1 .

Victory in the mile test was earned with a brilliant closing run, as Talco raced about 10 lengths back early on behind the pace set by 26-1 shot Winning Prize before turning in a late kick to get the job done.

Winning Prize showed the way through a :22.93 quarter and a :46.53 half, maintaining a 1 1/2-length advantage while Midnight Storm tracked second.

Talco was still last turning for home after three-quarters in 1:10.17, but Bejarano angled him out from his inside path to collar Midnight Storm after seven-eighths went in 1:22.38. Talco dug deep to gain the advantage with a sixteenth to run, and preserved the victory under confident handling from jockey Rafael Bejarano—who collected his third win in the first five races on the Saturday card. 

"When I came to the stretch, I knew Tyler (Baze, aboard Midnight Storm) still had a lot of horse," Bejarano said. "My horse gave me such a big kick off the turn, we were able to challenge him right away and then we outran him to the finish. The whole key to winning today was being able to stay inside around the far turn and really kicking well."

The 4-year-old chestnut colt, trained by John Sadler, is a son of Pivotal. He was second May 9 by a length to Shoemaker opponent Bal a Bali in the American Stakes (gr. IIIT), and was third in the 2014 Hollywood Derby (gr. IIT) and Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT).

Bal a Bali, who recovered from laminitis to race again, faded from contention to finish last in the Shoemaker field of five.

Talco returned $28.40, $6, and $5.20, while Midnight Storm brought $3 and $3.40.

Midnight Storm, winner of the Del Mar Derby last August, came into the Shoemaker riding a three game winning streak, but didn't show his customary front-running speed. 

"He didn't handle that grass at all, he couldn't really get a hold of it," said Baze. "I'm still very proud of the way he ran, he never threw in the towel."

Seek Again, shipped by Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott to Santa Anita from his training base at Saratoga Race Course, was next to last at the quarter pole and although outrun by the winner, picked up the pieces for third. Ridden by East coast-based Jose Lezcano, Seek Again was off at 7-2 and paid $5.40 to show.

"My horse just didn't do it today," said Lezcano. "I tried to keep up with Talco and couldn't."

Winning Prize and Bal a Bali completed the order of finish.

"I had a good trip," said Flavien Prat, who rode Bal a Bali as the 3-2 second choice.  "...I was pretty good on the last turn and I asked him and he didn't answer...We beat the winner last time, so I don't know (what happened)."

The Shoemaker Mile is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).

"When we saw the early fractions we felt pretty good, and we're happy that this win makes him eligible for the Breeders' Cup," said Kosta Hronis. "He was first or second in his last four races and he got the pace today."

"It was a big win," said Larry Benavidez, assistant to Sadler. "We just kind of wanted them to go fast up front and we figured the one (eventual fourth-place finisher Winning Prize) was going to go, with the blinkers on. Finally, the race played out like it looked on paper—and this horse is in top form right now."