The Santa Anita Park assembly light into the sundown on Halloween with Subconscious delivering a smart win in the Twilight Derby (G2T) in his first career stakes appearance.
While the outcome represented a mild upset, it came as no surprise to jockey Juan Hernandez, who said he had seen steady improvement from the Richard Mandella trainee, or to his supporters, who bet him down from 6-1 on the morning line to 5-2 at post time.
The efficiency justified the religion. When the bell rang, the favourite, Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Rock Your World , jumped out from the No. 8 gate and crossed over quickly to take the lead. Hernandez placed Subconscious right behind that rival and stayed there down the backstretch and around the far turn, applying some mild pressure at the half-mile pole.
Rock Your World began to flag early in the stretch drive while Subconscious kept finding more. The gelding strode out to win with authority by 1 1/4 lengths, finishing the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:47.00. Cathkin Peak was along to take second with Beyond Brilliant third.
Rock Your World eventually beat only one rival. None Above the Law , who had been improving steadily against California-breds, found the waters too deep in open company and finished eighth, one slot ahead of Rock Your World.
Unconscious (yellow cap) leads the cost residence within the Twilight Derby
“He is enhancing loads,” Hernandez mentioned of Unconscious. “Each race, he is getting higher. And even the blokes from Mandella’s barn, they advised me this horse was doing actually good and it seems like he desires to run extra each race.”
Unconscious began his profession at Santa Anita Could 1 and failed to seek out the winner’s circle in three begins there. He did enhance as he went alongside, ending second Could 29 and third on June 19, main a lot of the manner every time solely to fade late.
He acquired the job performed Aug. 21 at Del Mar, additionally on the entrance finish, and backed that up with an allowance win at Santa Anita Oct. 2 when Hernandez settled him behind rivals to make one late run.
Regardless of his confidence in Unconscious, Hernandez mentioned he had just a few moments of doubt about catching Rock Your World.
“For a second, it seemed like that horse was by no means going to cease,” he mentioned. That is why a put a bit of stress on on the half mile. I needed to transfer. However once we turned for residence, he handed the horse in entrance of him and he did not get caught by the opposite horses.”
“Mr. Mandella advised me in the event that they went too loopy in entrance of me, to remain behind them as a result of he is in a position to calm down higher,” Hernandez mentioned. “I let the pace go and he relaxed fairly properly at the moment for me in order that was the important thing—keep behind the pace.”
Hernandez closed out the assembly with a using triple.
Bred in Kentucky by Buscar Stables Inc., Unconscious a son of Tapit and out of the stakes placed Candy Ride mare Sweet Dreams. He sold for $380,000 at Keeneland in November 2018 and races for LNJ Foxwoods. Sweet Dreams beget a 2-year-old full brother to Subconscious named Moment of Peace, a yearling Quality Road colt, and delivered a Justify filly this year.
Video: Twilight Derby (G2T)
