Benny the Bull rallies to take the G2 True North Handicap at Belmont Park on 6/7/08
In one of the happier moments of Belmont Day 2008, Benny the Bull won with a resounding late run down the center of the track in the Grade 2 True North Handicap. A multiple Grade 1 winner, Benny the Bull ran his lifetime record to 8 wins in 16 starts, including a perfect 3 or 3 in 2008 including previous victories in the Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Park and the Golden Shaheen at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai.
Man of Danger, a 10-1 longshot on the morning line, set the early pace. The second choice at post time was Thor’s Echo, another runner returning from attempts in Dubai, albeit for Thor’s Echo they were unsuccessful attempts.
As the field turned for home it looked like Benny the Bull was in trouble. He swung wide and for a moment did not appear to be making up any ground on Man of Danger. In fact, for a distinct moment I thought #4 Abraaj was going to steal the race by getting first jump. However, in a situation that was to repeat itself several hours later, a horse getting out to a comfortable lead such as Man of Danger was going to make anyone with designs on passing them earn it if they were to prevail.
Man of Danger dug down and was ultimately nosed at the wire by trainer Rick Dutrow’s accomplished sprinter. Many had been banking on a Pick 6 that featured logical Dutrow singles on the bookends – and Benny the Bull made many breathe easy for a moment with a seemingly obvious victory in the opening race.
What we should have noticed, however – and what no doubt anyone paying a bit more attention probably picked up on – was the opportunity for lone speed – widely considered one of the safest bets in horse racing – was proving a tough challenge if allowed to get away with a lead.
Take a look at the form if you still have one. Man of Danger really doesn’t appear to me to have any business hanging on that well against Benny the Bull. True, Benny wasn’t quite as explosive as we’ve seen him before – probably a remnant of going halfway across the world and back since March of 2008. Benny is usually shot out of a cannon when he explodes – and eventually he did indeed find that stride as evidenced by the end of the race – but for much of the stretch he seemed to be laboring more than usual.
Man of Danger had failed to hang on against lesser competition in his last 3 races since prevailing against conditional allowance runners. Many handicappers probably felt that the inclusion of #1 Saint Damon at the rail would provide enough speed to allow the off-the-pace runners such as Benny the Bull, Abraaj, and Thor’s Echo to close. I was guilty of this myself. Instead once Man of Danger got the clear lead from Saint Damon we had a good ole fashioned fight to the finish – with the better horse prevailing by a nose at the wire.
Benny the Bull’s winning ride was officially clocked at 1:09.06 in the 6 furlong contest. Edgar Prado was the winning jockey.
[...] have quite the same “oomph” that we’d seen in previous efforts such as the 2008 True North Handicap on Belmont Stakes day. To put this in perspective, Eaton’s Gift hadn’t cracked the 82 Beyer level in any of [...]