He’s a Grade 1 horse and I’m glad it worked out today. He’s always been a good colt, he has always been highly thought of. I’m proud of the effort and the performance. Didn’t have our nose down at the wire but all and all it worked out. Turning for home I thought we had a big shot at winning the race. Florent did a good job of getting on the outside of Following Sea. I thought it was a lot like our Kentucky Derby trip. He also placed second in the Kentucky Derby. The Brad Cox trainee won the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes (Listed) in his last start on June 13 at Monmouth. It is not the best way to win by Mandaloun ran a winning race and deserves this,” Geroux recounted.
Honestly I didn’t know what happened until I came back and looked at the TV. “I feel bad for the connections of Hot Rod Charlie because he ran a hard race and Flavien Prat is a good friend of mine. Unfortunately for Hot Rod Charlie he came in and Midnight Bourbon clipped his heels and he got disqualified. Hot Rod Charlie was going to win by a neck and right at the end my horse came back and made it really close. When Hot Rod Charlie tipped out I decided to go inside. He has hit the board five out of his six starts with two wins for 2021. A homebred for Juddmonte Farm, the bay colt is sired by Into Mischief out of an Empire Maker mare Brooch. The ultimate winner with an $800,000 share of the purse, Mandaloun was handily ridden by Florent Geroux. Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified and Mandaloun declared the winner. Upon an inquiry it was ruled by the Stewards that Hot Rod Charlie came into Midnight Bourbon’s lane and was fouled by Hot Rod Charlie when he moved in to pass and caused the spill. Midnight Bourbon got up on his own and was walking fine but Lopez was taken off on a stretcher. Midnight Bourbon, in between horses, appeared to take a bad step and went head over heels throwing jockey Paco Lopez to the ground. It was a photo finish for Hot Rod Charlie and Mandaloun with Hot Rod Charlie prevailing (temporarily).
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Hot Rod Charlie surged in another gear coming (apparently coming in a few lanes) as Mandaloun clung close in contention down to the wire. All chasing that $1 million purse.Īs Following Sea dropped back there were three across at the quarter pole with Hot Rod Charlie taking command with a bold move on the outside. They were four in tandem-Following Sea, Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon and Hot Rod Charlie-going around the stretch turn with Following Sea on the rail.