June 12, 2005
In the 117th running of the Grade 2 $250,000 Brooklyn Handicap, Limehouse settled behind the frontrunner then took the lead on the turn before pulling away to win by a length and a half. Limehouse won the 1 1/8-mile handicap for older horses in 1:46 3/5 over the fast track. He paid $7.80 to win. The Dogwood Stable color-bearer earned $150,000 for first place, making him a millionaire with career earnings of $1,062,433. Limehouse - a 4-year-old Florida-bred colt by Grand Slam, out of Dixieland Blues (Dixieland Band) - is now 7-2-3 from 17 starts.
"The plan was to stay close," said winning jockey John Velazquez. "We wanted to go out of there from the outside and then get a little to the inside and save ground. When the other horse dropped in there (to the rail) I took him out a little and he was fine. From there on, he was a gamer. Every time they came to him, he gave them a little more."
"I didn't seem to think there was a lot of speed in here, and I thought being close would be good," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. "I thought the track had been playing to that. I wasn't concerned when Johnny (Velazquez) moved a little early. I could see the way that Johnny was riding that he thought he had a lot of horse."
Gygistar, the 2.3-1 favorite under Javier Castellano, followed Limehouse throughout the race and could not mount a challenge in the stretch. He finished second.
Funny Cide, the field highweight under Jose Santos and 119 pounds, settled into midpack. At the top of the turn, Cuba, under Norberto Arroyo, Jr., came away from the rail and brushed against Funny Cide. Santos claimed foul. The Stewards reviewed the video and disqualified Cuba from third place, placing his fifth. Royal Assault moved up to third. Funny Cide moved to fourth.
"We were in good position and he was running his race," Santos said. " When Norberto (Arroyo, aboard Cuba) came in on me going around the far turn, I had to pull back. That did us in." Added Barclay Tagg, the trainer of Funny Cide: "I'm not happy about the finish. (Funny Cide) came into the race absolutely perfect and strong. He was running well, and then I saw Jose (Santos) pull back. He damn near fell down."
Manhattan Handicap
Brooklyn Handicap
Riva Ridge BC Stakes
Just a Game BC Stakes
True North BC Stakes
