ECLIPSE CHAMP ROY H RUNS TO FORM, TAKES GRADE II, $200,000 PALOS VERDES STAKES UNDER DESORMEAUX

By Mike Willman —-

ROY H
Zoe Metz Photography

ECLIPSE CHAMP ROY H RUNS TO FORM, TAKES GRADE II, $200,000 PALOS VERDES STAKES BY 3 ½ LENGTHS UNDER DESORMEAUX; TRAINED BY MILLER, HE GETS SIX FURLONGS IN 1:09.68

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 3, 2018)—Eclipse Champion Sprinter Roy H showed up Saturday at Santa Anita. “He never left,” exclaimed his jockey, Kent Desormeaux. In his first start of the year, the 6-year-old More Than Ready gelding bided his time and came away with a seemingly effortless 3 ½ length score in the Grade II, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes. Conditioned by Peter Miller, Roy H got six furlongs in 1:09.68.

Breaking from the rail in a field of four older horses, Roy H was in-hand while last, about three lengths off of three dueling leaders, was taken three-wide turning for home and opened up under a hand ride and was geared down at the wire.

“He did it very easy,” said Desormeaux, who was also aboard for Grade I wins in his last two starts, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 7 and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 4. “Pete told me to let the other horses go today and let this guy finish up the last half mile.

“It made my job easy. He’s a super horse. I wanna say, he’s the best sprinter I’ve ever ridden.”

Owned by Rockingham Ranch and David A. Bernsen, LLC. Roy H was off at 1-5 and with no show wagering, paid $2.40 and $2.10.

The Palos Verdes victory improved his overall mark to 18-7-4-1 and with the winner’s check of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $1,479,765.

“Kent did a great job of just letting him settle and move around there at will,” said Miller. “I just have to give Kent a lot of credit, and my assistant, Ruben Alvarado, who’s done a super job with this horse at Santa Anita, and Rockingham Ranch for giving me a chance.

“The horse has been a model of consistency. I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse put in seven top races in a row like he has against top quality horses. He’s certainly the best sprinter I’ve ever trained.”

(Miller indicated that the Grade I, $400,000 Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs on March 10 at Santa Anita would likely be next for Roy H).

Americanize, who was head and head for the early lead with both Red Lightning and Mongolian Saturday, finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of “Red” and paid $2.10 to place as the second choice at 7-2.

Ridden by Tyler Conner, Red Lightning finished 5 ½ lengths clear of Mongolian Saturday.

Fractions on the race were 22.06, 45.15 and 57.04.

JOCKEY QUOTES

KENT DESORMEAUX: “He did it very easy. Pete told me to let the other horses go today and let this guy finish up the last half mile. It made my job easy. He’s a super horse. I wanna say, he’s the best sprinter I’ve ever ridden.”
When told Roy H was “back.” “He never left!!”

TRAINER QUOTES

PETER MILLER, ROY H, WINNER: “Kent and I had talked about just taking it to them (as far as strategy) because we felt like we had the best horse and I think we could have, but we thought better of it and it worked out well.
“It was our first race of the year, we didn’t want to change his style; $200,000 is a big race, but it’s not the biggest race we’re going to run in this year. Kent did a great job of just letting him settle and moving around there at will. I just have to give Kent a lot of credit, and my assistant, Ruben Alvarado, who’s done a super job with this horse at Santa Anita, and Rockingham Ranch for giving me the chance.
“I’d say the Triple Bend (Grade I, $400,000, at seven furlongs on March 10) and then the Golden Shaheen (in Dubai on March 31), that would probably be what we’d do, but one day at a time, one race at a time . . . The horse has been a model of consistency. I don’t think I’ve ever had a horse put in seven top races in a row like he has against top quality horses. He’s certainly the best sprinter I’ve ever trained.”

NOTES: The winning owners are Rockingham Ranch and David Bernson.

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