Following the Irish-bred’s impressive come-from-behind victory in the $200,000 William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, trainer Chad Brown called Francesco Clemente “a serious horse” for the 2024 season.
Since joining Brown’s stable during the summer of 2023, Brown thought Francesco Clemente had talent, but wasn’t quite sure he’d be able to handle the 1 1/2-mile distance. The 5-year-old son of Dubawi , stakes-placed in England, had done his best running overseas at the 1 1/4-mile trip. However, two starts and a win later, Francesco Clemente gave the 1 1/2 miles a try in the Nov. 24 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar.
WATCH: Francesco Clemente a “Serious Horse” in Turf Division
Rallying late, Francesco Clemente fell a neck short of catching Planetario in that test.
“He was an unlucky loser last time out in California,” Brown said.
Francesco Clemente would get up in time in the McKnight. While F Five and Cellist dueled through a torrid pace up front, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had Francesco Clemente racing in second-to-last behind fractions of :23.88, :47.99, and 1:12.10. Circling eight wide turning for home, Francesco Clemente blasted by rivals widest of all down the lane and drew off by 2 1/4 lengths under the wire.
The Peter Brant homebred, sent off as the 2-1 post-time favorite, stopped the clock in a blazing 2:22.64 on a firm turf course. The final time was .01 second off the Gulfstream course record.
He returned $6.40 to win.
Starting Over , a 41-1 shot, and F Five completed the trifecta.
What They Said
“I was (happy to see those splits). I thought my other horse (Stone Age) would break and be up a little closer but I didn’t mind the pace at all. My only concern at the 3/8ths pole was could he get around all those horses in time,” Brown said.
Video
Tumbarumba wins Fred Hooper
Amerman Racing’s Tumbarumba , trained by Brian Lynch, proved a gutsy winner in capturing his first graded stakes in the one-mile $150,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) later on the card.
Expressman broke best and asserted himself on the lead for John Velazquez while the Bob Baffert-trained favorite Hejazi , under Flavien Prat, was in close pursuit along the rail. Louisiana-bred Tumbarumba took up four wide to the outside of the leaders through a quarter mile in :23.53.
“I’ve always felt he’s better on the outside,” Lynch said. “He sort of got to stalk them.”
Hejazi took the lead as they entered the far turn while Tumbarumba inched closer from fourth through a half in :45.69. Expressman gave way, and Tyler Gaffalione had Castle Chaos launch a rally toward Tumbarumba’s outside.
Tumbarumba (inside) prevails in the Fred W. Hooper Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Hejazi kicked clear off the turn and opened a 2 1/2-length lead. Tumbarumba drifted out while Castle Chaos shifted in, and the two bumped, seemingly in a battle for second while trailing Hejazi. But by the eighth pole, Hejazi began to weaken, and Tumbarumba and Castle Chaos were implored by their riders to take advantage. They surged past Hejazi and went stride for stride to the wire, with Tumbarumba desperately sticking his head in front as they hit the wire to win by a nose in 1:36.45 under Luis Saez. Steal Sunshine came flying from far back to grab third from Hejazi.
“He’s such a game horse when he can get engaged in sort of a head bob,” Lynch said. “All-around, just a neat, neat horse, and I’m just so excited about him.”
Gaffalione lodged an objection against Tumbarumba and Saez for interference in the stretch, but the stewards dismissed it.
Bred by Coteau Grove Farms out of the Street Sense mare Naive Enough , Tumbarumba, a 4-year-old Oscar Performance gelding, returned $18.80 to win.—S.N.
Video
