Distance Game Changer for Name Changer in Richard W. Small Stakes
Distance Game Changer for Name Changer in Richard W. Small Stakes
LAUREL, MD – For Colts Neck Stables’ Name Changer distance has been a game changer, making the Richard W. Small Stakes presented by Samsung Business an attractive target, even though the Alan Goldberg-trained 3-year-old would face older rivals in 1 1/8-mile stakes on Saturday’s Fall Festival of Racing program at Laurel Park.
The son of Uncle Mo was the recipient of a dream trip under jockey Jevian Toledo, relishing very inch of the Small’s two-turn distance on his way to a convincing 2 ¼-length triumph over his elders.
“The distance was the main reason. He’s a deep closer. This track sometimes helps horses that come from off the pace,” said Goldberg’s assistant trainer Jorge Duarte, who saddled the Kentucky-bred colt. “You can give a horse a breather here more than at speed tracks.”
Name Changer, who was sent to post as the 2-1 second choice in a field of 11, broke from the gate clearny from his No. 2 post position to obtain a ground-saving stalking position around the first turn and along the backstretch as even-money favorite Tommy Macho set sensible fractions of 25.54 (seconds) and 50.51 for the first half mile. Discreet Lover, a 72-1 long shot ridden by Jose Flores, pressed the pace before moving to the lead on the far turn.
Approaching the turn into the stretch, Toledo eased Name Changer to the outside and his mount picked up the pace to take the lead at the top of the stretch before drawing away to a victory by a comfortable margin.
“He broke perfect today. We ended up getting in behind the speed and I was able to sit right behind the leaders,” Toledo said. “I had plenty of horse late. He just kicked away and kept going.”
Discreet Lover held second, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Ami’s Holiday, who nosed out Tommy Macho for third.
“The race didn't quite go as we planned, so I had to find a good spot for my horse early,” said Flores of Discreet Lover’s trip. “Blinkers have really helped this horse. He ran a nice race today.”
Name Changer, who is now 3-for-3 while testing his elders, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.99 to collect his first stakes victory. In his only other start at the distance, he finished third in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park in August.
Name Changer had prepped for the Small with a 5 ¼-length triumph in an optional claiming allowance race over the Laurel Park surface Oct. 28.
“He’ll probably get the winter off, but he could run one more time. He’s not on the Florida list, but I could see the boss wanting to run him in the Queen’s County,” said Duarte of the 1 1/8-mile $125,000 Queens County at Aqueduct on Dec. 17.
