Giocoso rallies for Commonwealth Turf

Rocket O Ranch’s Giocoso advanced boldly into contention on the far turn and wore down Chapman’s Peak in deep stretch of Saturday’s $299,800 Commonwealth Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs, prevailing by a head in the three-year-old turf fixture. Trained by Keith Desormeaux, Giocoso picked up the services of Jose Ortiz and completed 1 1/16 miles over the rain-softened ground in 1:41.47.

“It was a little anxious moments down the stretch, but the good horses know how to get the job done,” Desormeaux said. “Jose was able to get him to relax down the backside, and I was blessed to have a jockey that used his skills to do that, and we got the job done.”

Winner of the Secretariat (G2) at Colonial Downs three starts back, Giocoso didn’t experience the best of trips, finishing second in the Gun Runner S. at Kentucky Downs and third in the Bryan Station (G3) at Keeneland in his two previous outings. The dark bay colt by Not This Time put it all together in the Commonwealth Turf, improving his career record to 13-4-2-2 and increasing his earnings to $1,119,971.

“He’s a horse that comes to run every time and always gives you his best,” Ortiz said. “I couldn’t have gotten the job done today without Keith and his team back at the barn to get him ready to run. He broke well, and I got him to settle going into the first turn. I asked him to go little by little, and at the quarter pole when I tipped out, I could tell I had a ton of horse left.”

Giocoso left the starting gate as the 3.74-1 third choice among 10 runners.

Chapman’s Peak, the 9-2 fourth choice in his stakes debut following convincing maiden and entry-level allowance wins, pressed longshot pacesetter Outrunner through opening splits in :23.15, :47.66, and 1:11.67 and struck the front in upper stretch. Giocoso rated in eighth until launching his bid on the far turn, surging into contention while straightening for home. The runner-up proved game, but Giocoso had too much momentum, getting up in the final strides.

Outrunner held third by a half-length over Anegada, who was a neck better than Montador, who was in position to challenge but lacked the needed rally. California Burrito, Plensa, Mansetti, 5-2 favorite Troubleshooting, and Flying Mohawk completed the order.

Bred in Kentucky by Breed First, Giocoso was a $75,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. He’s out of the Fastnet Rock mare Nutcracker Suite, who is herself a three-quarter sister to Group 3 winner Beauty Bright and a half to Group 1-placed stakes scorer Aloft. This is the further family of such turf notables as Chimes of Freedom, Denon, and Spinning World, as well as champion sprinter Aldebaran and the versatile War of Will, hero of the 2019 Preakness (G1) and 2020 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1).