Heading into the gate for Saturday’s 66th running of the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, one of my favorite last second “tells” was on full display. Watching through the track feed, the 3-year-old bay Ron the Greek calmly waited for his moment to load into the extreme outside post position. He looked regal, stoic, and absolutely determined. Minutes later we would learn just how determined he actually was.
The $100,000 purse for the Lecomte was thought to be Maximus Ruler’s for the taking. As anticipated, he had been bet down to favoritism by post time from his 4/1 odds on the morning line. Rather than settle comfortably into a pace pressing position as we had anticipated, the son of Roman Ruler instead wound up setting the early pace of :23.42 with longshot Depaul just off of him.
By the opening half mile call of :46.80, Ron the Greek was all the way at the back of the pack, as Maximus Ruler continued to lead the field into the far turn.
At the top of the stretch, it may have appeared to the untrained eye that the race was boiling down to Maximus Ruler and Cool Bullet, who had come up to challenge the leader from just off the pace.
Way in the back of the pack though, Ron the Greek had shaken loose and was powering down the center of the track. The final sixteenth was all his, as he ran right past Maximus Ruler to hit the wire in 1:40.09.
Ron the Greek returned $17.60 for the win, with Maximus Ruler finishing 2nd and paying $4.40 to place. Letsgetitonmon finished 3rd and returned $5.00 to show.
No definitive information has been announced yet that I’m aware of, but it’s probably a good guess that Ron the Greek will stick around locally at Gulfstream Park and allow trainer Thomas Amoss to think about the Risen Star (2/20) and/or the Louisiana Derby (3/27).
For Maximus Ruler, while the defeat was tough, I doubt that we saw the bottom of this horse with this effort. It will be interesting to see where trainer Clark Hanna points him after this race. Will they want to continue to stretch him out, or do they feel he’s more effective going one turn? Only time will tell.
For now though, hats off to Ron the Greek. I’m not sure which performance was more impressive between his victory in the Lecomte and Winslow Homer’s victory in the Holy Bull (considering Winslow had to split horses at the top of the stretch – a move you like to see from an improving 3-year-old), but Ron was certainly the best score of the afternoon.
Congratulations to those who took a shot with him. Obviously, despite thinking of him as a contender, I wasn’t one of those folks. :)
I just seen this race now. That was impressive. I found out he got a 90 Beyer also. He is a potential Derby horse. Running style from behind is good also.
Kev,
Thought MAXIMUS RULER was the only legit Derby contender going in. Was dismayed that he showed w/ front wraps. Ran a brave race anyway considering the pace and long stretch run.
RON THE GREEK is like so many deep closers who catch the eye of many each Derby season. Likened him to DENIS OF CORK and Zipse’s blog. Could clunk up for 3rd in the Derby, but only wins in a huge upset a la MINE THAT BIRD.
I loved the way Ron the Greek took the Lecomte, he looked ready to take off again while jogging out after the race. Closers are always fun to watch too, his last to first move was tremendous, especially the way he flew by them all in the stretch.
Kevin,
Don’t know if you’ve seen this yet, but it was posted over at Thoroughbred Champions forum…the cutest damn video of Curlin’s little filly out of Collect Call (which makes her a half-sister to G1 Arkansas Derby runner-up Old Fashioned): http://www.rockportharbor.com/video/CollectCalland2010smallversion.wmv
OMG – she’s a chestnut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sure carries herself quite a bit like daddy, doesn’t she??? Amazing!
[...] « Ron the Greek powers away with the Lecomte [...]
It was strange how Torres pushed Maximus Ruler so hard on the front. Agree that he show much better under different circumstances. Ron the Greek looked great, but things set up for him pretty well – so it is a little difficult to get excited about the race and the 90 Beyer fig.
In the horse racing world there is a ton of information and different systems available to improve handicapping. Throughout years of reading and research the only true way to become very successful at handicapping boils down to 3 key principles. With knowledge, the ability to adapt to different situations, and discipline to do the work spending time on your selections you will dominate any track you come across. There are so many factors that can affect any given race that some races you can look at a hundred different times and still be dumbfounded.