Hybrid Eclipse made up a double-digit deficit in the final three furlongs of Saturday’s $100,000 Caesar’s Wish S. at Laurel Park to give the 5-year-old daughter of Paynter her fourth lifetime stakes win.
Since winning last year’s renewal of the one-mile Caesar’s on the front end, Hybrid Eclipse has turned into a come-from-behind runner with a devastating late kick. That style was on full display on Saturday. She was well off a moderate pace of :24.30 for the first quarter-mile and dropped even further behind going into the turn.
Midway on the turn, Hybrid Eclipse began her run, then after straightening for home, she found her best stride and with one final surge, she got to the wire a neck in front of Award Wanted.
“Honestly, it wasn’t until we crossed the first wire that I said, ‘Oh, I’m gonna win.’ But up until that point, I wasn’t sure if I was going to run third,” winning rider Joe Rocco, Jr. said. “She’s a smart horse. She got the lead right at the second wire, her ears went up right away and she’s like, ‘My job is done.’”
The victory upped the bay’s record to 8-2-5 in 22 starts, with earnings of $508,324 for The Elkstone Group.
Hybrid Eclipse was bred in Kentucky by Alex Venneri Racing, LLC. She hails from the same family as millionaire and five-time Grade 1 winner Twice the Vice.
Paynter, the sire of 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go, has 49 lifetime stakes horses, with progeny earnings of over $38 million. He stands for $7,500 S&N.
