Da Big Hoss Bounces Back in Elkhorn Stakes

Da Big Hoss continued his good form in long turf races when he secured his second graded stakes win of the season going 1 1/2 miles on the grass April 23 in the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.

The victory marked a bit of a bounce back for the 5-year-old Lemon Drop Kid   horse who finished fifth in the Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. II) in March at Gulfstream Park after opening the season with victory in the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Sam Houston Race Park. Trainer Mike Maker said the Gulfstream turf may have been speed-favoring that day for Da Big Hoss, who found the Keeneland turf more to his liking Saturday.

Saving ground throughout the three-turn test under Florent Geroux, Da Big Hoss tracked from third before he reeled in longshot frontrunner A Red Tie Day turning for home, seized the lead midstretch, and held off Kaigun by a half-length at the wire. Da Big Hoss completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:31.29 on firm turf.

"He’s a very neat horse—push-button. You can put him exactly where you want to be," Geroux said. "If there’s a bit of an opening, when you ask him to go, he can push through very clear and very quickly.

"I think that made the difference today, the trip and saving ground. When I was able to see the opening at the top of the stretch, my horse kicked on very nicely and kept going."

Da Big Hoss picked up his fourth stakes win since Maker claimed him for Skychai Racing in June 2015 out of a race he won at Churchill Downs. Da Big Hoss was claimed for $50,000 from Gary and Mary West, who also bred him in Kentucky, and trainer Wayne Catalano.

Harvey Diamond, racing manager for Skychai, said he'd been talking to a partner about playing Da Big Hoss in a Pick 3 in that claiming race at Churchill, when they decided they should go look at him. They then decided to put in a claim.

"We saw a horse who looked like he wants to win and Mike said, 'Let's stretch him out; he looks like he wants to go farther,'" Diamond said. "All the stars kind of fell into position and here we are."

Florent Geroux has been aboard for the past three starts, after guiding him to victory in the Connally Turf Cup. Maker said Geroux was able to make that trip to Houston and proved to be a good fit for Da Big Hoss, who also won last year's Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) at Kentucky Downs and John's Call stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Da Big Hoss returned $7.40, $3.80, and $3 across the board, while Kaigun, who finished second for the fifth time in his past six starts, paid $3.40 and $2.40 to place and show. Royal Albert Hall closed from last in the field of eight to finish third, returning $4.60 to show.

Diamond said there are plenty of options for Da Big Hoss this summer and fall, and their ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), a race Da Big Hoss finished sixth in last year.