Dutrow, Prado Win With Benny Bull
Looky Yonder Also Gives Trainer A Win in Vagrancy Over Dream Rush
Benny the Bull delivered a win in his first start since his victory in Dubai for trainer Rick Dutrow, with Edgar Prado in the saddle. Looky Yonder bested Dream Rush.
Three hours before the Belmont Stakes, Benny the Bull, ridden by Edgar Prado, passed the finish wire in his first start since his Dubai victory on March 29, giving trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. a heads up on triumph before champion Big Brown entered the Belmont Stakes (also for Dutrow) with a chance to win the 12th ever Thoroughbred Triple Crown. Helping Benny get the victory was Prado, who lost his Belmont ride when second favorite Casino Drive was scratched due to a sore foot.
Dutrow Gets Double Pleasure
In the week before Benny's win, the Dutrow trained filly, Looky Yonder overcame champion Dream Rush in the Vagrancy Handicap, a graded II event. Garrett Gomez piloted Looky Yonder over the six and a half furlongs in 1:17.63, while Dream Rush relinguished a four-length lead she had built up by the eighth pole.
Benny Blasts Off for Four Straight
Dutrow was somewhat surprised by Benny's great finishing rush to capture the $250,000 True North Handicap, as the gelding took a wide path to get up by a neck in the lane. Benny the Bull has been successful since winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Nad al Sheba Race Course in the UAE on Mar. 29. His last loss occurred in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a graded I race held at Monmouth Park last October.
At the top of the stretch in the True North, Benny swung into a surprisingly high gear and tracked down the leader, Man of Danger in 1:09.06 for the six furlongs. Prado said the gelding took a few strides to get his race together, then grabbed the track to fly to victory.
The True North champ is co-owned by the same connections that engage Big Brown, IEAH Stable, and James Cohen, Pegasus Holdings Group Stable, and Sanford Robbins. The gelding is a Florida-bred from Tomaka Farms, sired by Lucky Lionel. He has won eight of 16 career starts and earned $1,983,550.
Thor's Echo completed his first start since finishing 2006 as champion sprinter He placed second, while Abraaj went third.
Dream Rush Couldn't Hold Off Looky Yonder
Looky Yonder picked up her first graded stakes win, an impressive one over Dream Rush, who had been without a race since her fifth place showing in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Monmouth Park. She had been off with soreness in her hindquarters.
Gomez took his lady down the rail from last place to the wire in time to best her four rivals. A Johnannesburg daughter, Looky Yonder is out of Victorian Angel, by Vice Regent.
