A maiden winner in a single appearance at two last September at Los Alamitos, I Will Score defeated future SW & GISP and GI Preakness S. hopeful Uncle Lino (Uncle Mo) a couple of heads into third in a first-level allowance over 6 1/2 furlongs over this surface Jan. 3. Third to Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) and Uncle Lino after setting the pace for the opening three-quarters of a mile in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 6, the dark bay was last of six in Danzing Candy (Twirling Candy)'s GII San Felipe S. Mar. 12 and added blinkers when runner-up in Oaklawn's six-furlong Bachelor S. Apr. 15.
Drawn outside in this field of seven, I Will Score hit the ground running and was soon able to cross his rivals to get down onto the fence, but he soon had three-wide company from Smokey Image and Mrazek in the middle as the first quarter was up in a moderate :22.62. I Will Score and Smokey Image cleared away a bit into the turn as Mario Gutierrez smartly asked Mrazek to take back and the decision looked a potentially smart one, as the half-mile was posted :44.68. I Will Score led narrowly as they turned into the stretch, and Mrazek was swung three or four wide around Smokey Image, who was the first to capitulate. I Will Score clung desperately to the lead entering the final furlong, and though it looked like Mrazek might get up for Team Nyquist, he managed to find the line first.
“[Trainer] Jerry [Hollendorfer] told me to see how the race happens and to go from there,” commented winning rider Martin Garcia. “My horse broke really sharp, so I took advantage.” Asked if the addition of blinkers in his more recent races, or maturity is the determining factor with I Will Score's success, Garcia added, “He was just learning before, in his previous races. Now, he's a more mature horse, he's a better horse. He can run anywhere [regarding running style].”
Hans Poetsch acquired the winner's second dam in partnership with William Hartigan for $70,000 at the 1997 OBS March Sale. Grassy Nellie is the dam of a 2-year-old filly named Curly Nellie (Curlin), a yearling filly by Gio Ponti and was bred back to Blame.
Saturday, Santa Anita Park
LAZARO BARRERA S.-GIII, $100,690, SA, 5-14, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.30, ft.
1–#@I WILL SCORE, 120, c, 3, by Roman Ruler
1st Dam: Grassy Nellie, by Belong to Me
2nd Dam: Copelan's Climber, by Copelan
3rd Dam: Native Climber, by Exclusive Native
O/B-Hans Poetsch (KY); T-Jerry Hollendorfer; J-Martin Garcia.
$60,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $173,145. Click for the
eNicks Report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
[bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Mrazek, 122, c, 3, Square Eddie–Heckuva Rush, by Wild Rush.
O/B-Reddam Racing, LLC (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $20,000.
3–Smokey Image, 122, c, 3, Southern Image–Special Smoke, by
Free House. O-Irvin Racing Stable; B-C-Punch Ranch Inc. (CA);
T-Carla Gaines. $12,000.
Margins: NK, 3 1/4, NK. Odds: 3.40, 3.60, 3.70.
Also Ran: Westbrook, Denman's Call, Bistraya, Iron Rob.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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