MORELLO (Classic Empire – Stop the Wedding, by Congrats) sped to a 96 Beyer Figure win and remained unbeaten in the Grade 3 Gotham at one mile at Aqueduct, March 5.
The slightly-built chestnut from the first crop of champion Classic Empire is owned by Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Diamond T Racing and trained by Steve Asmussen. Jose Lezcano rode.
Breaking from post 9, Morello was forwardly placed down the backstretch in second to the outside of two-time winner Dean’s List, who led the 10-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.47 seconds over the fast main track.
Approaching the far turn through a half in 47.77 seconds, Dean’s List remained in command as Morello inched his way closer to the pacesetter. But Manny Franco, aboard Dean’s List, began getting busy aboard his charge past the quarter pole while Lezcano remained still on Morello.
In mid-stretch, Morello swept past Dean’s List under little coaxing and extended to an in-hand victory in a final time of 1:39.28 over a slow surface. Dean’s List held second by one length over fellow Todd Pletcher-trainee Golden Code.
Life Is Great, Glider, Runninsonofagun, Fromanothamutha, Noneedtoworry, Bold Journey and Rockefeller completed the order of finish.
“He’s a very nice horse who has been doing everything right. He’s one of the nicer horses I’ve ridden in the last three years,” said Lezcano, who was aboard Morello for all three starts. “I never even touched him with the whip. You ask him a little bit and he takes off – it’s a good thing. I’ve ridden some good horses and he’s showed me he’s one of those.”
Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds said he was highly impressed with the way his horse won.
“We thought there would be a little bit quicker of a pace in the race, so we were a little concerned about that, but he just does it so professionally,” Lyon said. “When he came around the turn, I just had a feeling because of how professional he is that he would make us proud. Galloping past the wire, the way he did it, we’re starting to think about the first Saturday in May at this point. I’ll let Toby [Sheets, assistant to Asmussen] and Steve make that decision but this group – you saw us celebrating – we’re thinking about that.”
The next New York Kentucky Derby qualifier is the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial [100-40-20-10] going nine furlongs on April 9. While Lyon was non-committal to the horse’s next start, he expressed no concern with any added distance.
“He had to use a little more of the tank today and use another gear, but he showed us that he’s got it,” Lyon said. “I don’t want to look past this race – we want to celebrate this – but we’re thinking he can go longer. I don’t know how long he could go but we’re all from Saratoga and we’d certainly want to win the Travers. I want that canoe more than I want the Kentucky Derby trophy – but I’ll take that one, too.
“Steve is the winningest trainer in North American history, so we’ll let him make the call and tell us where to go,” Lyon added. “We’re dreaming now. This is a game changer, today. We’ll book some hotels and cancel them if we have to. We think we might have a Derby horse here.”
*At Santa Anita on a stakes-filled card, FORBIDDEN KINGDOM ran wild on the lead in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and dominated his rivals with a 5 3/4 length score in 1:43.98 for 1 1/16 miles. He was awarded a 98 Beyer Figure.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Forbidden Kingdom, a chestnut colt by American Pharoah – Just Louise by Five Star Day , won by 5 ¾ lengths over the Bob Baffert-trained Doppelganger while getting a mile and one sixteenth in 1:43.98.
Breaking like a rocket from post position six, Forbidden Kingdom was immediately in charge and settled into a rhythmic stride up the backside as Hernandez sat motionless. With an eight-length advantage at the three furlong marker, Forbidden Kingdom prevailed by a similar margin turning for home over Doppelganger as the rest of the field struggled to keep up.
“I was anxious to see this race and see if he would get two turns,” said Mandella, who notched his third San Felipe win. “He looked even better. I was a little nervous when I saw the 45 (45.90) on the board for the first half. He just did what he likes to do. The next step is the Santa Anita Derby next month (Grade I, $$750,000 on April 9)…This guy is turning the corner and he’s grown up.”
With legendary Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. presenting the San Felipe trophy, a huge throng of owners with MyRacehorse reveled in the Winner’s Circle ceremony. A 2 ¼ length winner of the Grade II San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs on Jan. 29, Forbidden Kingdom was off as the even money favorite and paid $4.00, $2.40 and $2.20.
Owned as well by Spendthrift Farm, LLC, Forbidden Kingdom, a $300,000 purchase as a yearling, picked up $240,000 for the win, as well as 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. With total earnings of $434,000, Forbidden Kingdom, who picked up his second stakes win, is now 5-3-1-1.
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