Saturday, February 18, 2012
MARILYN’S GUY OVERCOMES LAYOFF AND TROUBLED START IN AS INDICATED OVERNIGHT STAKES PHOTO
By Jon Forbes
Following a tardy start, Marilyn’s Guy raced unhurried in fifth as he trailed the field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.53, ranged up three wide to draw within striking range approaching a half in 48.45, drew even with odds-on favorite San Pablo following three-quarters in 1:12.09, gained the upper hand from that rival in the final strides.
Marilyn’s Guy, the 3-1 second choice, returned $8.00 for a $2 win wager and completed one mile in 1:37.37.
“I just caught [the break] at the wrong time where he threw his head and got left,” said winning jockey C.C. Lopez. “From there, I had to ad lib, because I’m supposed to be head and head with
The As Indicated was Marilyn’s Guy’s first outing since finishing second in the Harrison E. Johnson last March at Laurel Park for trainer Steve Asmussen, who had claimed the gelding for $50,000 out of a victory in a Big A optional claimer earlier that month. Following the Johnson, Marilyn’s Guy was transferred to the barn of Tony Dutrow, who gets the credit for the As Indicated victory.
“I was happy when they were coming down the stretch; I wasn’t too happy when they were going around the clubhouse turn,” said Paul McClelland, assistant to Dutrow. “We expected the horse to come out of the gate and pretty much be on the lead. When he wasn’t, Chuckie [Lopez] did everything right; he sat back and waited, and the horse was full of run. It all worked out well. Tony had him down at Palm Meadows for the past four weeks, and he was very well prepared. It was a pleasant surprise. It’s hard to win off a 10 or 11-month layoff.”
Marilyn’s Guy, 8-5-4 in 24 starts, earned $45,000 on Saturday, pushing his bankroll to $285,695. The 6-year-old son of Yonaguska was bred in
Linebacker made a belated bid to finish third, 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner, with Isn’t He Perfect and Day of Destiny completing the order of finish.
-30-
