Honest Man wins Iselin

Honest Man recorded an honest win in the Iselin (Jessica Denver/Equi-Photo)

WinStar Farm and Fox Hill Farm’s HONEST MAN (Unbridled’s Song) rallied from
just off the pace to win going away in Saturday’s $300,000
Philip H.
Iselin S. (G3). With Terry Thompson holding the reins for Larry Jones, the
four-year-old colt easily withstood the late run of the favored Grasshopper
(Dixie Union) to register his first stakes victory with a 2 3/4-length decision.

Defending champion Gottcha Gold (Coronado’s Quest) grabbed control of the pace after the break,
setting fractions in :22 3/5 and :46 while Honest Man stalked a few
lengths back in fifth, and the eventual winner launched his rally three wide
into the far turn as the pacesetter grimly maintained a head advantage through
six furlongs in 1:10 1/5. Honest Man was less than a half-length back when
passing the mile mark in 1:36, and he blew past Gottcha Gold and Kiss the Kid
(Lemon Drop Kid) in the final furlong, finishing up 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 over the fast
track at Monmouth Park.

Sent off the 3-1 second choice, Honest Man returned $8.20, $3.40 and $3 while
keying the $12.10 exacta ($1) with the 3-2 Grasshopper, who paid $2.40 and $2.40. It
was three parts of a length back to the 10-1 Kiss the Kid, who yielded $4.40,
and 7-2 third choice Gottcha Gold finished another neck back in fourth. The $1
trifecta totaled $91.60, and the 3-7-5-2 superfecta ($1) was $298.20. Cuba (Not
for Love), Actin Good (Yes It’s True), Five Steps (Yarrow Brae) and Pleasant
Strike (Smart Strike) came next under the wire. Shopton Lane (Quiet American)
was scratched.