Starlight Stable and partners’ Why Tonto and Stonerside Stable’s Cowboy Cal, 3-year-old stablemates in trainer Todd Pletcher’s talent-deep barn, finished one-two in Saturday’s $100,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park, reversing the result of their last meeting in the Tropical Park Derby (G3) at Calder on New Year’s Day.
Cowboy Cal was the 1-2 favorite under jockey John Velazquez in the field of nine that went to the post for the 1 1/16 miles turf test after winning all three of his previous starts on turf. Cowboy Cal took the lead going into the first turn, however jockey Edgar Prado brought Why Tonto up to challenge at the top of the stretch and they wore down Cowboy Cal to score by 1½ lengths with Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Cannonball another 1 ¾ lengths back in third.
A son of Indian Charlie, Why Tonto paid $13.40 after being timed in 1:40:20 over the ‘firm’ course, winning for the third time in eight starts after two runner-up finishes in stakes in his last two starts.
Winning Jockey Quotes
Edgar Prado:
“When Cowboy Cal pulled away (to the lead) I tucked inside to save ground. I knew that I had Cowboy Cal coming down the lane. My horse was trying very hard and he had something left in the tank. He was much quicker today than when he ran in the Tropical Park Derby at Calder. He was lazy last time out. He was push- button today. I hope to keep the mount on him because there are some good races coming up and he has a very good future.”
John Velazquez (Cowboy Cal, 2nd) – “He got out a little bit in the first turn, but I was eventually able to settle him down on the backstretch, but that was it. He just didn’t have it when the other horse (Why Tonto) came to him.”
Winning Trainer Quote
Todd Pletcher (Why Tonto & Cowboy Cal, 1-2):
“Why Tonto ran an improved race today while Cowboy Cal was a little rank and didn’t handle the first turn too well, although he still ran a good race to be second after those (fast) fractions. I think there are things he (Cowboy Cal) can improve on from here. We’ll see how they come back and see where we go from there. Nothing today would necessarily change any plans (possible start in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland) for Cowboy Cal.”
Fractions: 22:85, 46:12, 1:09:66, 1:33:91 & 1:40:20