A big gate-to-wire one-mile turf winner in his previous start, trainer Leonard Powell's Air Force Red employed identical tactics on Saturday at Santa Anita as he shortened up to about 6 ½ furlongs over the hillside turf course, taking the $250,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2) by 1 ¾ lengths.
Ridden for the second time in a row by Juan Hernandez, Air Force Red finished the trip in 1:11.53.
Breaking on top from his number five post in a field of 10 three-year-olds and up, Air Force Red had a 1 ½ length advantage on eventual runner-up Lane Way at the dirt crossing and despite the fact he stayed on his left lead to deep stretch, was never threatened through the stretch run.
A 1 ¾ length winner of the restricted Lure Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 29, Air Force Red, a 4-year-old bay ridgling by the War Front stallion Air Force Blue, was off at 7-1 and paid $16.40 for the victory.
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Holly Golightly, Air Force Red, who is out of the Mizzen Mast mare Mesana, notched his first graded stakes win and got his fifth win from 10 overall starts. With the winner's share of $150,000, he increased his earnings to $354,140.
Attentive to the pace from his rail post, Lane Way was second, a length off the winner while into the bridle a half mile from home and proved second-best on the day as finished 1 ½ lengths in front of Gregorian Chant.
Gregorian Chant saved ground to the top of the lane and made a nice move from off the pace to finish third, three quarters of a length better than Smooth Like Strait.
The Hernandez fractions, all set by Air Force Red, were :22.19, :43.65, and 1:05.66.
JOE HERNANDEZ (G2) STAKES QUOTES
OWNER QUOTES
ARON WELLMAN, ECLIPSE THOROUGHBRED PARTNERS, PART OWNER, AIR FORCE RED, WINNER: “ This is home base, and we happened to be home today. I just want to dedicate this win. …We lost an incredible part of the racing community (Friday) with Mandy Delahoussaye passing away (at age 47). So, I just want to send my entire condolences to the entire Delahoussaye family, Eddie D., Juanita, Lorne, and Rose Ann. Eddie rode this hill like nobody and to win this today, down the hill, in a Grade 2, the day after Mandy's passing is really special. So I just want to honor her memory with this victory.”
JOCKEY QUOTES
JUAN HERNANDEZ, AIR FORCE RED, WINNER: “It looked like the owner brought him in a little sharp today, and it was good because down the hill you need to have a little bit of speed. He broke really sharp and he was really focused at the gate, he broke in front of everybody and after that he was just really comfortable. I felt like I was flying down the hill, but he was really comfortable and nobody put any pressure on him. It was a little fast but comfortable, he was doing it all by himself, I didn't push him to be there. He crossed the dirt really smooth and he switched leads when I asked him and he picked it up and got to the wire first.
“This was a really unbelievable year for me, I'm really happy. I really improved on myself and I have to give a lot of thanks to my agent and all the partners. Hopefully next year I want to keep working hard and have an even better year next year.”
TRAINER QUOTES
LEONARD POWELL, AIR FORCE RED, WINNER: “I always look forward, I never look backwards, so I know we've had quite a few (stakes wins) but I'm just very thankful to the crew, everyday at the barn and to the owners that put faith in us.
“When the number three, Super Ocho, scratched, we were some of the speed and I looked back at the PP's and two times that he had run down the hill he made it all I told J.J. before the race, 'Don't be afraid.' ”
The post Air Force Red Scores Emotional Win For Connections In Joe Hernandez appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
