When Todd Pletcher declined to subject Munnings (Speightstown) to a fourth
consecutive attempt over a sloppy track in Saturday’s $98,000
Mr.
Prospector S. (G3), that left Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farm’s CUSTOM
FOR CARLOS (More Than Ready) the overwhelming even-money favorite in the reduced
field of five for the six-furlong test at Gulfstream Park. The newly turned
four-year-old did not disappoint, wearing down pacesetter Past the Point (Indian
Charlie) before drawing off to win by three parts of a length. Under Julien
Leparoux, Custom for Carlos completed the distance in 1:10 and gave back $4,
$2.60 and $2.10 to his supporters.
“He trained well for the race and we were expecting him to run well, but he
had never even breezed on a sloppy track like this, so you just don’t know how
they will handle it,” trainer Eddie Kenneally said. “I don’t know that he
particularly liked it or not, but he’s a class horse and got it done.
“We have no specific plans at this point,” he continued. “One option we will
consider will be the race in Dubai (Golden Shaheen [UAE-G1] on March 27). We won
the Mr. Prospector a couple of years ago (2007) with Kelly’s Landing and two
races later he won the Golden Shaheen. But the difference now is that they will
be running on the new (Tapeta synthetic) track and (Custom for Carlos has) never
run on (synthetic), but that is one possible option.”
Past the Point, the 7-2 third choice, set fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 1/5,
but yielded under pressure from the favorite through the stretch before settling
for second, 1 3/4 lengths clear of 2-1 second pick Presto Change O (Grand
Slam). Past the Point paid $3.20 and $2.40 while completing the $11.80 trifecta,
and Presto Change O was good for $2.20. The trifecta returned $16.80 and the
2-1-9-8 superfecta, completed by 4-1 chance Starforaday (Five Star Day), was
worth $32.60. Make Me Zach (First Tour), the 33-1 outsider, trailed home in
fifth.
In addition to Munnings, Gentleman James (Yankee Gentleman), Peace Chant (War
Chant) and Prince Joshua (First Tour) were also withdrawn from the Mr.
Prospector. Gentleman James ran in Saturday’s Pelican S. at Tampa Bay Downs,
finishing fifth.
This was the second graded stakes registered by Custom for Carlos, who also
took the Jersey Shore S. (G3) at Monmouth Park last July. Third in the Swale S.
(G2) at last year’s Gulfstream meet, he ended his sophomore season on a high
note with a sharp second in the Gallant Bob H. at Philadelphia Park and a 3
3/4-length romp over his elders in the Bet on Sunshine H. at Churchill Downs.
Custom for Carlos’ scorecard now reads 11-5-2-1, $350,630.
Bred in Kentucky by David E. Hager II, Custom for Carlos was produced by the
stakes-placed Meadow Oaks (Meadowlake), who is also the dam of a yearling colt
by Lion Heart. Custom for Carlos’ third dam is the Grade 1-winning Plankton
(Quack), the dam of Grade 2 winner and sire Buckley Boy (Alydar) as well as the
ancestress of multiple Grade 1 winner Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal) and her Group
3-winning full sister Heaven Sent.