HOT SPRINGS -- A successful 2015 Oaklawn Park season got even better for owner Harry Rosenblum and trainer Ron Moquett.
Rosenblum and Moquett teamed for their third stakes victory Saturday, an upset victory at that, when Gentlemen's Bet wore down 3-5 favorite Ivan Fallunovalot in the the $100,000 Hot Springs Stakes.
Gentlemen's Bet joins the 3-year-old Far Right, winner of the Smarty Jones and Southwest Stakes, as stakes winners for Rosenblum and Moquett.
"Good horses make people look good," Moquett said.
No one questioned the quality of this victory in a field of seven older c0lts and geldings.
Ivan Fallunovalot has won nearly $225,000 in the past 13 months, and sailed to victories in his first two starts this season, including the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn on Feb. 7.
Gentlemen's Bet, a 6-year-old Argentina-bred horse, made his first start since November of 2013 on Feb. 14 in an optional claiming race at Oaklawn. He led throughout most of the 6-furlong race, but fell to third late in the stretch. Moquett said he was pleased by the result after such a long layoff.
The second start back was even better for the son of Half Ours.
Gentleman's Bet, with Ramon Vazquez aboard, stayed within 1 1/2 lengths of front-running Ivan Fallunovalot though an opening quarter of 21.61 seconds and a half of 44.58 before gradually narrowing the gap.
"We didn't know who was going to be in front," Moquett said. "I just told him [Vazquez] that he had a lot of horse, to ride confident that he would fight. Today was a class check more than a time check."
The favorite's lead was a head as the two turned into the stretch, with Zee Bros 2 1/2 lengths back and beginning to fade.
Gentlemen's Bet, at 5-1, pulled even with a furlong left, and began to pull away from Ivan Fallunovalot and rider Calvin Borel at the 16th poll to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:09.67.
"I asked him to sit behind the pace, and he did it perfectly," Vazquez said. "When we turned for home, I asked him to run and he dug in and really tried hard."
Moquett said owner Harry Rosenblum and Gentlemen's bet would combine to tell him when and where they would make the next stop, and that the Grade III, $300,000 Count Fleet Spring Handicap on April 9 at Oaklawn.
"We're just going to do what's best for him," Moquett said. "We'll talk the the owner, and we'll come back in the Count Fleet if we can. I'd love to if that's what the horse wants."
Sports on 03/08/2015