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Richard's Kid scores in San Antonio

Richard's Kid is now headed to the Dubai World Cup (Benoit Photos) Zabeel Racing International's RICHARD'S KID (Lemon Drop Kid) put in a furious rally up the rail in the stretch of Sunday's $150,000 San Antonio H. (G2) at Santa Anita to post a head victory under jockey Garrett Gomez. The Bob Baffert-trained five-year-old, who was using this 1 1/8-mile Pro-Ride test as a prep for the March 27 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), finished up in 1:49 to return $5.20, $3.40 and $3 as the 8-5 favorite. Mast Track (Mizzen Mast) took the lead soon after the start, setting splits of :24 1/5, :48 4/5 and 1:13 while closely tracked on his outside by Pick Six (Dynaformer). All the while, Richard's Kid was saving ground while racing in the back of the pack. Rounding the turn, the dark bay was still in the rear as Pick Six moved up to take command through a mile in 1:36 3/5. Richard's Kid looked beat in midstretch, but Gomez angled his mount over the rail and the five-year-old hit another gear, accelerating up the inside to score in his 2010 debut. "I stayed down inside with him because there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it," Gomez said. "Nobody was really stopping today, so the only way we were going to overcome that was to save ground. He's got a great kick."

Dakota Phone (Zavata), off at 34-1, had his head in front of Philatelist (Rahy) on the wire to take second and pay $21.40 and $10.80. Show gave back $7.80 at 18-1, and the $1 exotics were worth $47.20 (exacta), $466.50 (trifecta) and $5.281.90 (8-7-4-5 superfecta). Pick Six followed by another half-length, but was only a head in front of Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) victor Furthest Land (Smart Strike), who in turn had a head up on Mast Track. Completing the order of finish were Marsh Side (Gone West), Nownownow (Whywhywhy), Quasicobra (Wild Rush), Giganticus (Giant's Causeway) and Slew's Tiznow (Tiznow).

Richard's Kid earned his first stakes win last February when taking the John B. Campbell H. at Laurel Park by one length over eventual Whitney H. (G1) hero Bullsbay (Tiznow). He was sixth next out in the New Orleans H. (G2) and made his last start under the tutelage of trainer Richard Small when fourth in the May 16 William Donald Schaefer S. (G3). The dark bay reappeared in Baffert's shedrow at Del Mar in July, finishing seventh in the Eddie Read H. (G1), then gave a hint of what was to come when just missing by a nose in the Cougar II H. while going 1 1/2 miles.

Richard's Kid earned his biggest win to date with a 24-1 upset of the Pacific Classic (G1), following that up with a close third in the Goodwood S. (G1). He closed out his four-year-old campaign with a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). This victory improved his record to 22-7-2-5, $891,370.

Bred in Maryland by Fitzhugh LLC, Richard's Kid is out of Tough Broad (Broad Brush), who during her career captured six stakes and placed in seven others, including the 1996 Noble Damsel H. (G3). He is the first stakes winner for his dam, who is a full sister to 1997 Kent S. third Broad Choice. Other stakes scorers in the family include 1971 Derby Trial victor Vegas Vic (T. V. Lark), who placed in such events as the Washington Park H. (G3), Oak Tree Invitational, Santa Anita Derby; Unky and Ally (Heff), queen of the 1997 Sorority S. (G3); and multiple Calder stakes winner Kid Colin (Baldski).

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