PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $49,844 INTO NINE-RACE CARD ON SATURDAY
ARCADIA, Calif. (March 29, 2013)—In his first try going a route of ground, 8-5 Rosenberg rated like a pro early and showed the heart of lion late, as he won Friday’s $70,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds under Martin Garcia by a half length, covering one mile on turf in 1:34.20.
A front-running winner of the $79,000 Baffle Stakes going 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course, Rosengold was a gate to wire maiden special weight winner sprinting on the main track in his previous start, and he appeared to be the speed of the Pasadena field on paper. The early lead, however, went to longshot Meringue Pie, ridden by Kevin Krigger, who broke from the far outside and was hustled to the front in the nine-horse Pasadena.
“What a surprise,” said winning trainer Julio Canani, half-jokingly. “I talked to Martin and I told him ‘If that other horse (Meringue Pie) goes, lay second.’ You have to teach a horse to sit. He has a lot of courage, and he’s a grass horse too.”
Content to sit a close second off fractions of 23.42, 46.92, 1:10.53 and 1:22.36, Rosengold seized command at the top of the lane and out kicked 5-2 second choice Procurement, who finished second with Garrett Gomez, 1 ½ lengths in front of Counting Days and Rafael Bejarano.
Rosengold, in his third consecutive victory, picked up $43,080 for the win which boosted his bankroll to $123,370. Bred in-part and owned by William L. Currin, Rosengold is a Kentucky-bred colt by Stormello, who was trained and co-owned by Currin.
“Stormello, his sire, he wouldn’t even pee on the grass, let alone run on it,” said Currin, who resides near Del Mar in Solana Beach. “Rosengold loves the grass…I just sit at my house at the beach with a great view of the ocean, but I find myself looking at you guys on TV more than I do the ocean!”
Procurement, who was the beaten favorite in the Baffle, was far off the early pace as expected and came with a stout run but was second best. He paid $3.60 and $2.80.
