Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Disarm ran down Verifying right at the wire to win the first graded stakes of his young career in Sunday's 26th running of the $400,000 Matt Winn (G3) for 3-year-olds at Ellis Park.
Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Joel Rosario, Disarm, who entered off a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1), completed the Matt Winn's 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.59 over the surface rated as sloppy.
The fleet-footed Bo Cruz was taken to the early lead under Corey Lanerie and completed a composed quarter-mile of :24.46. Verifying, and jockey Tyler Gaffalione, tracked Bo Cruz in second up the backside while Disarm and Rosario were positioned third at the rail. Around the far turn, following three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.05, Verifying drew alongside Bo Cruz while Rosario started to ask Disarm to pick up his best stride. Verifying, 16th in the Kentucky Derby, took over the lead from Bo Cruz at the eighth pole but had to fend off Disarm, who ranged up in the three path to his outside. In the final stages of the Matt Winn, Disarm gamely pressed by Verifying to record a half-length victory.
Bo Cruz was third, ahead behind Verifying.
“It was a little wet today which is always concerning to see how horses would like it,” Rosario said. “(Disarm) seemed to like it and got over the track well. It was a very good performance. Steve (Asmussen) told me to get him into position after we broke from the gate and just let him handle things on his own. At the three-eighths pole I had to start to ride him a little bit to keep position but he responded very nicely after that and continued to do so down the lane.”
Disarm was sent to post as the even-money favorite and returned $4.24 for the win.
It was another 1 ¾ lengths back to fourth-place Raise Cain, who was eighth in the Derby. He was followed in order by Denington, Go Solider Go, and King Russell, 15th in the Derby.
Kentucky-bred Disarm is a 3-year-old son of Gun Runner out of the Tapit mare Easy Tap.
With his victory in the Matt Winn, Disarm increased his overall mark to 2-2-2 from seven career starts and boosted his purse earnings to $760,700.
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