Stayers' Watch: San Luis Obispo Handicap · 22.02.10
Sometimes it’s just a matter of a horse finding its niche. Bourbon Bay had lost seven races in a row since being purchased by David and Jill Heerensperger as a juvenile in 2008 before winning a 1 1/2 mile optional claiming allowance last month at Santa Anita. Trainer Neil Drysdale then pointed the 4-year-old gelding towards the $150,000 San Luis Obispo Handicap (gr. IIT), at the same distance, on 21 February. “When we purchased him, we purchased him with the idea that he’d be a mile and a half horse,” said Drysdale, after Bourbon Bay proved his connections right by taking the San Luis Obispo by 4 1/4 lengths.
Bourbon Bay stalked the easy pace set by Sudden War over the first ten furlongs, together with pre-race favourite Dynamic Range and veteran stayer Porfido. As Dynamic Range stumbled and lost stride and Porfido faded, Bourbon Bay made his move at the top of the stretch. He took command around the eighth-pole and rolled to the win, covering the distance in 2:28.89 over a turf course rated “good”. Unusual Suspect was second, catching the tiring pace-setter Sudden War in deep stretch.
Many stayers don’t reach their peak as distance racers until they get older (hello, Cloudy’s Knight). Bourbon Bay just turned four, has two stayers’ races under his belt, and trainer Drysdale says, “It looks like he’s improving”. If he’s right, we might be enjoying Bourbon Bay’s distance performances for a long time yet.
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