Making his first start on dirt and only his second beyond seven furlongs, Shared Belief remained undefeated with an authoritative victory in the $500, 500 Los Alamitos Derby Saturday at Los Alamitos.
The 2-year-old champion male of 2013 is now 5-for-5 after dominating Candy Boy and five others in the Grade II, the signature race of the inaugural Summer Thoroughbred Festival.
Owned by a partnership that includes sports radio and television personality Jim Rome’s Jungle Racing LLC, KMN Racing LLC, Jason Litt, Alex Solis II, George Todaro and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the 3-year-old Candy Ride gelding dispelled any concerns about his ability to handle something other than a synthetic surface.
In his first collaboration with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, the 7-10 favorite was comfortably placed outside pacesetter Can the Man for most of the 1 1/8 miles, took over entering the longest stretch in the United States (1,380 feet), easily repelled a challenge from Candy Boy, the 3-1 second choice, and drew away to win by 4 ¼ lengths with little in the way of encouragement.
Out of the Storm Cat mare Common Hope, Shared Belief completed the distance in 1:47.01 and the $300,000 payday pushed his earnings to $772,200.
As a result of his first route win since he clinched his Eclipse Award with a victory in the Grade I CashCall Futurity last Dec. 14 at Hollywood Park, Shared Belief became eligible for a seven-figure bonus.
The Los Alamitos Racing Association and the California-based insurance brokerage firm Bolton & Company sponsored the $1 million Bolton Challenge. In order to complete the Challenge, a horse needs to win the Los Alamitos Derby, $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (Aug. 24 at Del Mar) and the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (Nov. 1 at Santa Anita).
“Good race (for Shared Belief),’’ said Hollendorfer. “Anyone that says they are not anxious before a big race like this where the spotlight is on you is probably not telling the whole truth. I was a little anxious to get this one out of the way and see if he could handle dirt and the mile and an eighth.
“I thought I had him prepared and apparently he was because he won pretty much in hand. I was confident he would handle dirt because his sire Candy Ride handled all surfaces.
“(Jockey) Mike (Smith) called me early this morning and we went over the race and we knew we had to be tactical here, so we came out of the gate just like we planned and were forwardly placed. Turns out we were in the right spot. I love this horse and I think he’s a very good horse.’’
Rome, who has a pair of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint victories on his resume thanks to Mizdirection, was ecstatic in the winner’s circle.
“A Derby is a Derby,’’ said Rome. “It may not be the Kentucky Derby, but I’m going to take a Derby win anyway I can get it. It’s a good day.
“I’ve had the same questions as you guys about whether he could run on dirt and most of all if he could get the distance. I was a little concerned, but then he did what he does. Shared Belief did Shared Belief things and it ended pretty well.’’
Smith, who became the fourth different jockey to ride Shared Belief, following Juan Hernandez, Corey Nakatani, who was aboard for victories in the CashCall Futurity and Grade III Hollywood Prevue, and Russell Baze, had any concerns about the Los Alamitos Derby eliminated early in the race.
“My main worry honestly was would he handle the dirt,’’ he said. “I wasn’t worried about the distance and I wasn’t worried about him being fit. I knew within 100 yards out of the gate that he was going to handle the dirt.
“I asked him a tiny bit at the 4 ½ (furlong pole) and he responded so well, it was probably a bit too soon. After that, I put my hands back and waited for another horse to make me move. (Candy Boy) came to his outside and I called on him just a little bit at that point and he (drew clear) awful quick.’’
Shared Belief, who has won his races by a combined 28 ¾ lengths, paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10.
Making his first start since finishing a much-troubled 13th in the Kentucky Derby May 3, Candy Boy finished 7 ¼ lengths in front of 15-1 shot Tonito M., who is also trained by Hollendorfer.
Candy Boy returned $3.60 and $2.60 while the show price on Tonito M. was $5.
“(Talamo) thought he had (Shared Belief) for sure at the quarter pole, but then (Smith) opened up his hands and boom,’’ said Larry Benavidez, the assistant to John Sadler, who trains Candy Boy. “That horse is a freak.’’
Completing the order of finish were Friendswith K Mill, Can the Man, Top Fortitude and Eddie’s First.
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2 p.m. to conclude the first week of the Festival.
Highlighting the nine-race program is the $75,000 Cypress Stakes, which is for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.
Onna Bugeisha, who has two wins and two seconds in four starts since joining the stable of trainer Carla Gaines, is the 8-5 morning line favorite. The field is completed by Maker Or Breaker, Legacy, Miss Radiance and Irish Presence.
