San Antonio

Super-sub Gomez steers

Molengao to San Antonio score

Molengao earned his first win since last January (Benoit Photo) T N T Stud's homebred MOLENGAO (Brz) (Royal Academy) rallied from far back to collar the pacesetting Ball Four (Grand Slam) in the shadow of the wire in the $250,000 San Antonio H. (G2), the Super Bowl Sunday feature at Santa Anita. The Paulo Lobo charge finished 1 1/8 miles on the fast track in 1:48 3/5 with new pilot Garrett Gomez, who picked up the mount when Victor Espinoza injured an ankle in a spill earlier on the card.  Ball Four and 2-1 favorite Preachinatthebar (Silver Charm) sped away from the field in the opening stages, battling through an opening quarter in :22 4/5. Preachinatthebar then conceded the lead, opting for a tactical retreat along the rail before angling to the outside to stalk in second. As Ball Four slowed the pace to :47 2/5 for the half-mile and 1:11 2/5 for six furlongs, El Roblar (War Chant) took closer order and challenged the front runner turning for home. Ball Four managed to keep that rival at bay, reeling off the mile in 1:35 4/5, but Molengao was making rapid headway along the inside. After Gomez switched to the outside for a clear path, Molengao continued with good energy, and despite running on his left lead, he overtook Ball Four by a head at the wire. "I've watched him run, and I know what kind of a kick he has," Gomez said of his surprise mount. "I got a little concerned going to the half-mile pole because he kind of came out of the bridle a little and wouldn't switch leads for me. He got some dirt in his face and we got shuffled back a little bit farther. I was able to wait and try to regroup because I know this horse has a solid one-eighth of a mile kick, and we'd be in good shape if I could find daylight." Lobo was full of praise for his last-minute substitution.

"He has all the stars (from heaven) on him,"  Lobo said. "Gomez had

never been on the horse before, but I think he read the (Daily Racing)

Form, and when he came to the paddock, he knew everything about the horse."

El Roblar checked in another 1 3/4 lengths back in third, trailed by

Preachinatthebar; Southern Africa (Cape Town); 5-2 second choice Fairbanks

(Giant's Causeway), who stumbled one stride out of the gate; and Billy Allen

(Ire) (Night Shift). Backus (Real Quiet) and Porfido (Chi) (Mash One [Chi]) were

scratched.

Leaving the gate as the 6-1 fifth choice, Molengao yielded $15.20, $6.60 and

$4 while spearheading $1 exotics worth $47.70 (exacta), $250.50 (trifecta) and

$651.40 (6-4-5-2 superfecta). The 5-1 Ball Four ran his heart out in second to

give back $7.60 and $5.20, and El Roblar returned $5.20 to show at odds of

nearly 9-2.

With this first stakes win to his credit, Molengao advanced his scorecard to

13-4-1-5 and doubled his bankroll to $298,477. The chestnut had finished a solid

second to T. H. Approval (With Approval) in the grassy Sunset Breeders' Cup H.

(G2) last July and was then sidelined for nearly five months. In his

reappearance last time out, Molengao came from the clouds to grab third in the

Native Diver H. (G3) on the Cushion Track.

The Brazilian-bred six-year-old was produced by Court Lady (Locris), a

Brazilian Group 1 winner who captured six other stakes in the course of her

career. Molengao is a half-brother to Group 1 queen Onefortheroad (Ghadeer), who

is herself the dam of Brazilian champion and American Grade 3 winner Ay Caramba

(Brz) (Roi Normand), and his other notable half-siblings are Group 2 victress

New Rochelle (Ghadeer) and Group 1-placed Ohneguinha (Brz) (Vettori).

Lobo left the door open for future targets, including the March 3 Santa Anita

H. (G1).

"We'll talk with the owner (about the Big 'Cap)," the horseman said. "He runs

on dirt or grass, and we have a lot of options."

Espinoza missed out on the winning ride because of an ankle injury he sustained in

the 3RD race. His mount in that starter handicap, Bardy Woman (Unusual Heat),

broke down nearing the first turn on the turf course and unseated her rider. She

fractured her right front leg and had to be euthanized. Espinoza managed to

guide C'Mon Tiger (Storm Cat) to victory in the 5TH race, but he took off his

remaining mounts on the card.