Considered a top-tier Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect early last year but winless in his last six starts, Forbidden Kingdom came back running following a seven-month layoff to take Saturday's $200,000 Joe Hernandez (G2) by a half length at Santa Anita.
The Hernandez, originally scheduled at about 6½ furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf course, was moved off the hill due to early morning rain that measured four-tenths of an inch.
Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, Forbidden Kingdom, who was trying turf for the second time, showed an abundance of natural speed out of the gate and had a half-length advantage on eventual runner-up Dancing Buck three furlongs out.
Turning for home, Forbidden Kingdom, running at the rail, raced head and head with Dancing Buck to the sixteenths pole, where Forbidden Kingdom was able to establish a half-length edge, which he held to the wire. He covered the 6½ furlongs in 1:14.92 on turf rated as good.
Fractions on the race were :23.99, :48.19, and 1:09.16 for six furlongs.
“He got me into the race right away and used all his speed,” Prat said. “From there we were able to get some fractions and he kicked home well.”
A winner of the prestigious San Felipe (G2) on March 5, 2022 and subsequently a well-beaten sixth as the even-money favorite in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), Forbidden Kingdom had been idle since fourth in the Triple Bend (G2) May 27 at Santa Anita.
Off Saturday at 4-1 in a field of 12 3-year-olds and up, Forbidden Kingdom paid $10.60 for the victory.
Trainer Richard Mandella said he always thought Forbidden Kingdom would like the grass.
“When I ran him as a two year old on it, he didn't do that good,” he said. “He didn't know what he was doing back then. We've also been on kind of a losing streak with him a while, so my confidence level was not great. He's always trained like a really good horse and he is a really good horse. He fought an intestinal problem a year ago and it took I'm a while to get over it. I think now we are back in the game.
“I can't say enough about (owners) Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse to tell me to take the time that I wanted and do it right. Get him back slow and here's what you get. That's what racing is all about. It is not, 'What is this month's bottom line?' It is trying to make the best thing out of what you've got.”
A 4-year-old colt by American Pharoah out of the Five Star Day mare Just Louise, Forbidden Kingdom notched his third career Grade 2 victory and improved his overall record to 12-4-3-2. With Saturday's winner's share of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $679,500.
Forbidden Kingdom was bred in Kentucky by Springhouse Farm and sold for $300,000 as an offering in the Paramount Sales consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Selected Yearlings Showcase.
Ridden by Edwin Maldonado for Richard Dutrow and sent off at 13-1 odds, Dancing Buck, who broke from post position 12, ran too good to lose as he pressed the winner throughout, never threw in the towel, and was easily second best, finishing 1¾ lengths in front of Turn On The Jets.
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