From the May 16 Pimlico Special
With A.P. Arrow Scratched, Student Council Beat Gottcha Gold
Wet weather aside, and with A.P. Arrow absent from the field, Student Council battled through to beat Gottcha Gold by a neck in the Pimlico Special May 16 in Baltimore.
Student Council rallied from the rear to charge into the stretch driving for the leader, Gottcha Gold, and caught him by a neck in the muddy May 16, $200,000 Maryland Lottery Pimlico Special. After finishing fourth to Curlin in the Dubai World Cup Classic on March 29, A.P. Arrow was entered in the Special, but had to be scratched when he developed a fever.
Grasshopper the Favorite
Grasshopper, runner-up in the graded 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds on Mar.8 and in the Apr.30 Westchester Handicap at Belmont Park, found the Pimlico's left over favorite's spot. But he had an uneventful trip, and was uncharacteristically disinterested in the late chase.
Student Council caught Gottcha Gold at the 70 yard pole to win in 1:54.87 for the 1-3/16 miles. Gottcha Gold, Gulfstream Park's Skip Away Handicap champion in the March renewal of that event, had taken over the lead by 2-1/2 lengths at the 1/8 pole. Sir Whimsey ambled in to take third, 5-3/4 lengths from the battling leaders.
Sir Whimsey won the Gulfstream Park Handicap in March and finished third in the Ben Ali event at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.
Wanderin Boy, a grade 2 winner, also was scratched. He is a Seeking the Gold colt normally ridden by Kent Desormeaux.
A.P. Arrow Scratched from Third Start
A.P. Arrow's connections were delighted to have their colt run so well in Dubai. The A.P. Indy son was to make his third start of the year in the Special. In the graded 1 Donn Handicap on Feb.2, A.P. Arrow finished second to Spring At Last. He is a homebred owned by Allen Paulson Living Trust. Trained by Todd Pletcher, his regular rider has been Ramon Dominguez.
Student Council Overcomes Tiring Travel
Special winner Student Council is a grade 1 winner who had been winless in three starts this year, including a run in the Santa Anita Handicap. Last fall, the Kingmambo colt won on Aug.19 in the Pacific Classic Stakes (grade 1) and on Sept.29 in the graded 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap. He is ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan and trained by Steve Asmussen.
Owner Ro Parra lamented on the decision to transport the colt to Japan for the Japan Dirt Cup earlier this season. Student Council seemed tired following the excursion, Parra said.
Jockey Edgar Prado, aboard Sir Whimsey for the Special, said his mount lost ground and momentum when he had to guide him around an early wall of horses. Both jockey and trainer, James Toner, said they thought the Jump Start colt was not comfortable on the off track.
Jockey Robby Albarado said his mount, Grasshopper, had an off day. The real deal will run again in another race, Albarado said. Grasshopper, a Dixie Union son trained by Neil Howard, finished fifth.
Eddie Plesa, Jr., trainer of Gottcha Gold, said he was hoping the Coronado's Quest colt would find the wire first, but he was happy with his performance. Jockey Chuck Lopez said Gottcha Gold ran his race well. "...the winner just came and got him," Lopez admitted.
Also in the Pimlico Special were grade 3 winners Temporary Saint and Ryan's for Real, as well as multiple grade 3 winner Xchanger.
