Doctor Mounty Scores Big in International Turf Cup
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Photo: Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Doctor Mounty (outside) edges Projected by a nose to win the Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup at Laurel Park
Giving it all he had in the stretch to get up in the last second, Larry Pratt and Dave Alden's Doctor Mounty hit the wire a nose ahead of Projected in the $200,000 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup (G3T) Sept. 29 at Laurel Park.
Four years and 22 starts after he kicked off his racing career, Doctor Mounty can finally add the title of graded stakes winner to his résumé; but victory did not come easy.
Sent off at odds of 26-1, the 5-year-old son of Street Sense broke fifth from the far outside post in the seven-horse field. Sent to the early lead on the rail, Abiding Star set fractions of :24.38, :49.20, and 1:15.84 through the first six furlongs. Tiring as they reached the stretch, Abiding Star dropped back dramatically to fifth as Doctor Mounty shifted four-wide on the outside to take the lead by a length over Dalarna.
Digging in under patient handling from jockey Forest Boyce, Doctor Mounty faced a late challenge from fast-rallying Projected but managed to hold for the win. Final time for the one-mile turf test was 1:41.78 over a course rated yielding.
"I kind of asked him a little earlier," Boyce said. "There were a couple horses I was keeping my eye on. I wanted to make sure we got the jump on them. I actually turned to (jockey) Joe (Bravo) and asked him (if I won) and he said, 'You definitely won,'" Boyce said.
The incredulity of his jockey aside, victory in the BWI paid off handsomely for Doctor Mounty. The winner returned $54.60, $13.60, and $7.80 on a $2 wager.
Irish Strait finished third 1 1/4 lengths behind Projected with Dalarna in fourth another five lengths behind. Abiding Star, O Dionysus, and Siem Rep completed the order of finish.
The win was the first for Doctor Mounty since winning a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs in January. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Doctor Mounty entered the race off a seventh-place finish in the Old Friends Stakes Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs.
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Susan Keller, Vicki Oliver, and G. Watts Humphrey III, Doctor Mounty is the third foal out of the A.P. Indy mare On a Roll. He was purchased by McGaughey for $170,000 from the Niall Brennan Stables consignment to the 2015 Ocala Breeders' Sales June Sale of 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. He improved his record to six firsts in 22 starts with $347,060 in earnings.
The BWI was one of six stakes on the Sept. 29 card worth $650,000 which kicked off with Sonny Inspired's win in the Find Stakes during Race 4. Florida-bred Cairenn took the Shine Again Stakes in Race 5 and Old Time Revival edged his competition by a nose one race later to win the Challedon Stakes over seven furlongs.
Channel Cat dominated with a 5 3/4-length win in the $150,000 Bald Eagle Derby over 1 1/2 miles on the turf in Race 8--his second consecutive stakes win. The stakes day concluded when Sagamore Farm's hombred filly Riley's Choice secured her first stakes win of the season during Race 9 in the All Brandy. Riley's Choice is now the 150th black-type winner for her sire Distorted Humor .