EXPLICIT WINS Gr.2 TRUE NORTH H.
Explicit, a five-year-old son of Distant View, won his third
stakes race in his past four starts with a powerful victory in the
Gr.2 True North Handicap on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 8th.
Rival Yonaguska jumped out of the gate to lead the field in the
early stages but he was quickly engaged by Explicit. Jockey Lonnie
Meche kept Explicit close to the rail-running Yonaguska, who cut
fractions of :22.26 for the first quarter and :45.08 for the half.
At the top of the stretch, Explicit tackled Yonaguska, who matched
that move for a few strides before yielding. Explicit, carrying top
weight, opened up in the stretch and was not seriously threatened.
Time was 1:09.98 on a fast track.
Jockey Lonnie Meche said “We were able to stay three or four
lengths off the fence. That was where I wanted to be. I rode him
with confidence, and he was there for me when I needed him. He’s
got so much confidence when he’s out there; he’s ready to take on
anybody. When he pricked his ears at the eighth pole, I knew he had
another gear.”
Trainer Ian Jory said, “He’s turned into a tough horse. Meche
said he had a ton of horse. He’s a five-year-old that’s peaking.
He’s definitely a better horse this year than he was last year. I
was wondering if they were going too quick, but obviously they
weren’t. Once he gets the lead, he doesn’t want anyone to pass him.
We’re going to give him a break and bring him back in the Forego
(Gr.1 at Saratoga on September 1) with the Breeders’ Cup Sprint the
main goal.”
Bred in Kentucky by owners Marvin and Sonja Malmuth, Explicit is
out of the winning Sir Ivor mare Elegant Victress.
Date:
10 June 2002