Richard the Great was at his best in Saturday’s Trinniberg H. at Gulfstream Park, rolling to a 7 ½-length victory in a brilliant 1:21.06 for the seven furlongs.
The victory was the first in a stakes for the son of Distorted Humor. The 5-year-old, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 100 for the stellar effort, has raced just nine times, with four wins and a third and earnings of $116,805 for owner/breeder Arindel Farm.
Richard the Great broke on top and never looked back, opening up with a flourish at the top of the stretch and winning as easy as possible.
“I didn’t give [jockey Emisael Jaramillo] any instructions. I train; he rides,” trainer Stanley Gold said. “At first I wasn’t happy he was in front because I thought, ‘Oh, no. He isn’t going to finish.’ But he had a snug hold on him and took a hold of him. He let him go when they came at him. When he drew away from them I knew it was over.”
Distorted Humor, sire of more than 140 stakes winners lifetime, is still a highly sought-after sire at the auctions, with three yearlings bringing more than $300,000 at last week’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected sale.
