SNYCHRONY OVERCOMES NINE-MONTH LAYOFF TO TAKE GRADE III FAIR GROUNDS HANDICAP

By Ryan Martin —-

2/18/2018. – Joe Bravo aboard Synchrony wins the Grade III Fair Grounds Handicap at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

NEW ORLEANS (February 17, 2018) – Pin Oak Stable’s Synchrony had not seen racing action in nine months, but nevertheless was still able to prove himself against a deep field when taking Saturday’s Grade III Fair Grounds Handicap.

Sent off as the 9-2 third choice, the 5-year-old son of Tapit sat well off a moderate pace that was led by 56-1 longshot Great Wide Open (Ire.) who produced fractions of 23.22, 47.44 and 1:12.47 with Thatcher Street tracking just behind the front runner in second. Approaching the far turn, Synchrony weaved his way around horses and asserted himself to the front to hold off Mr. Misunderstood who was handed his first defeat on the turf. Under the guidance of jockey Joe Bravo, he won the Fair Grounds Handicap by two lengths in a final time of 1:42.82. Mr. Misunderstood was second while 43-1 longshot Tiz A Slam took the show spot.

“Horses like this that are coming off the bench you don’t know what to expect or how thyre going to run,” Bravo said. “But he’s doing everything so well in the morning but you never know until race day. When we came to the three-eighths pole he was still breathing and relaxed and just watching them guys. Man, that’s what I live for it was pretty fun. You got to thank (trainer) Mike (Stidham) for taking him off the bench like that.”

Speaking of which, trainer Mike Stidham spoke highly of Synchrony going into the race and such confidence was rewarded when he scored what became his first graded stakes victory on Saturday afternoon. He has been stakes placed when running second in his two prior starts – Laurel Park’s Henry Clark Stakes and the Gr. III Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park.

“It’s all about how the horse is doing and their mental and physical attitude,” Stidham said. “I had him for a short time last year, but he is like a completely different horse this time around. You can see it in his training and he just telegraphed it and showed it this afternoon.”

Meanwhile, it was the first loss on the turf for runner-up Mr. Misunderstood, who went into the Fair Grounds Handicap a spotless 8-for-8 on grass.

“He ran incredibly well,” said trainer Brad Cox. “We were very pleased with the effort, but we were second best today.”

Synchrony returned $11, $4.80 and $4.20 from his Fair Grounds Handicap victory. Mr. Misunderstood paid back $3.20 and $2.60. Longshot Tiz A Slam brought back $13.20 to show.

Synchrony kicked off his career racing on the main track for trainer Donnie Von Hemel and was stakes placed on dirt when running third in Oaklawn Park’s Smarty Jones Stakes and third in the Gr. III Lexington Stakes at Keeneland behind Collected. He was transferred to Stidham at the beginning of last year and made one start on dirt before switching to the turf, where he has never finished worse than second in four starts.

His off-the-bench triumph enhanced his career earnings to $258,102, of which $90,000 was earned following a victory in the Fair Grounds Handicap. In 11 career starts, Synchrony has finished off the board only twice. The Fair Grounds Handicap was a fourth career victory.

Rounding out the field were High Noon Rider, Zulu Alpha, Applicator, One Mean Man, Thatcher Street, Catcho En Die (Arg.), Galton, Granny’s Kitten and Great Wide Open (Ire.)

1-13-2018 Mom’s On Strike with Adam Beschizza aboard wins the Marie Krantz Memorial Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

Elsewhere, Brad Grady and Carl Moore’s Mom’s On Strike kept her record perfect at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots’ with another powerful stretch kick to take the $75,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes. It was the third local and second stakes win over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course for the Joe Sharp-trainee.

While jockey Adam Beschizza maneuvered Mom’s On Strike over to the two-path in mid pack going by the stands the first time, second-choice I’m Betty G established a clear early lead. The eventual third-place finisher maintained her advantage going around the clubhouse turn and down the backside through fractions of 24.40, 49.79, and 1:14.17. 46-1 longshot Vagabond Princess challenged I’m Betty G at the top of the stretch and took the lead away from that rival at the eighth-pole. Mom’s On Strike ranged up seconds later and surged forward while racing a few paths to the outside of her foe and pulled away in the final 1/16-mile to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The final for the about 1 1-16 miles distance was 1:43.82. I’m Betty G tired late and dead-heated for third with the rallying Five Hearts.

Beschizza has been aboard for all three of the victories this winter for Mom’s On Strike.

“She has got that one gear and when you pick her up into the straight she changes leads and lengthens away but if the pace is a little bit slack, you could be in danger,” Beschizza said. “I was a little bit concerned there was going to be a shortage of speed. There were a couple of horses I had to be wary of and I had them on either side of me so they weren’t too far away. She’s come into her own at the Fair Grounds. You have to be sure you’re in the clear and don’t have too much to do and she’ll get the job done.”

With a tie to match his silks, co-owner Carl Moore was extremely pleased with the result.

“I knew she had a kick when he got her outside,” said co-owner Carl Moore. “I knew unless they took off running that she had a good chance to catch them. She had a big ole’ kick at the end.”

Joe Sharp was happy to see Mom’s On Strike string along multiple victories.

“The filly was always good, she was just plagued by some tough trips,” Sharp said. “(Jockey) Ty Kennedy got her a good trip at Churchill, kind of wide but it let her get her confidence up and that’s the main thing with any athlete, especially fillies. She’s such a big filly, so the less she can be bottled up the better because her big stride is to her advantage.”

Mom’s On Strike has now won five races from thirteen starts, with four second-place finishes as well. She upped her career earnings to $292,950 with the win.

The victory was the second on the day for the high-percentage duo of Beschizza and Sharp.

“The maiden race (we won) went a lot faster,” Sharp said. “So when those fillies went those fractions I was really worried. When she kicked out, I was hoping she had an extra gear and she did.”

Sent off as the 9-5 favorite, Mom’s On Strike returned $5.80, $3.80, and $2.80. Runner-up Vagabond Princess paid a hefty $40.00 to place and $13.80 to show. I’m Betty G brought back $2.40 in the show spot.
Sharp hopes to go 4-for-4 with Mom’s On Strike with plans to run in next month’s New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes.

“I think our plan with her is we’ll run her in the next race and then give her a little break for a couple of months, just to kind of freshen her and have her set up for the fall,” Sharp said.

Rounding out the field were Giada Vegas, Inveniam Viam, Malibu Bonnie, Shes a True Beauty, Susie Bee, and Hallie Belle.

Cover Photo: Synchrony; Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges, Jr