Dressed in Hermes Rallies to DeMille Win

Dressed in Hermes rallied down the center of the Del Mar turf course and overtook front-runner Collected in deep stretch to win the $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 2-year-olds Nov. 29.

 

The gelding by of Gainesway resident sire Hat Trick   strongly rebounded from his fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) Oct. 30 at Keeneland, coming from off the pace to take the mile DeMille with Mike Smith aboard in 1:36.13 on firm turf. Collected, a debut winner last month at Santa Anita Park, stayed on for second, 1 1/2 lengths back, and maiden winner Frank Conversation, who tracked from third early, finished evenly in his stakes bow. 

 

Seventh in the 12-horse field early as Manhattan Dan laid down fast early fractions, Dressed in Hermes went three deep on the second turn and was third into the stretch. Collected, who chased Manhattan Dan from second down the backstretch, gain the lead leaving the second turn but couldn't hold back contain the winner.

 

Trained by Janet Armstrong for owner/breeder Budget Stable, Dressed in Hermes added a second stakes win and first graded victory his record, which stands at 2-0-1 from five career starts. Prior to the Breeders' Cup, he won the Zuma Beach Stakes in come-from-behind style Oct. 10 at Santa Anita.

 

"Janet just said ride him with confidence," Smith said after the race. "She said he might do best to lay fourth or fifth and then he should come running. She was right. I just had to guide him around there. He wants to run on, this horse. I had a hard time pulling him up after the race. Had a hard time pulling him up going into the winner's circle. He'll run on; mile and an eighth for sure. He's got a lot of good energy."

 

Armstrong said Dressed in Hermes has filled out since he traveled to Breeders' Cup and back.

 

"He's filled out more, has more weight and more muscle, which is really a good thing," she said. "During the stretch run, I really thought he was going to make it. He's such a nice horse. We'll give him a little time off now and probably come back at the end of January. We'll probably try the dirt next. Just don't know where or which one."

 

Kentucky-bred Dressed in Hermes, who is out of Elusive Fashion, by Elusive Quality  , paid $9.40, $4.80, and $3.80. Collected returned $10.80 and $8.20, and Frank Conversation paid $7.60 to show.

 

Dressed in Hermes a half brother to I Rock the Party, who was also a stakes winner at age 2.

 

Completing the order of finish were Rare Candy, Hot Ore, Canada, Tusk, Ninety One Assault, Imperious One, Arizona Moon, Storming Candy, and Manhattan Dan.