Back on his favorite course, Mr. Misunderstood ran if not the race of his life Saturday night then certainly his best against older horses.
The 4-year-old grass star, owned by Staton Flurry of Hot Springs, won the Grade 2 $200,000 Wise Dan at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., against a field including reigning champion turf male World Approval. The dark bay gelding won by a half-length over Inspector Lynley with Mr Cub beaten a head for second and World Approval next to last of seven entered.
With Florent Geroux aboard, Mr. Misunderstood carried 121 pounds over a firm-rated mile and sixteenth in 1:41.83 and paid $7.60 to win. The Archarcharch gelding had not started since placing sixth in Keeneland's Grade 1 Maker's Mile 46 April 13, that following back-to-back defeats at Fair Grounds.
In the Wise Dan, Mr. Misunderstood recaptured the form that carried him to five consecutive victories late in his 3-year-old season.
"Running against older horses at the turn of the year ... we knew he had to step up and move forward, and I wouldn't say that he struggled, but he was running against good horses at Fair Grounds," said trainer Brad Cox. "In the Maker's Mile, he did not get away good, and I think he could have gotten a placing that day. This was the race I had been pointing for since then, and he's been training extremely well. He loves this turf course. He's 3-for-3 here now."
Mr. Misunderstood is 10 for 17 with earnings of $574,714. He won the first Super Derby on grass last fall at Louisiana Downs and later took the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs.
"He's just a very honest gelding," Cox said. "He's a cool horse to be around, and he gives you what he's got every time. He got a good trip today, and it worked out. We'll see how he comes out of this, and we'll see what takes place over the next couple months."
A Louisville native, Cox won three races on the Stephen Foster undercard with 3-year-old turf filly Beyond Blame taking the Grade 3 Regret under Geroux.
Cox also trains star 3-year-old dirt filly Monomoy Girl, winner of three consecutive Grade 1 stakes, and Oaklawn Park's Grade 3 Fantasy winner, Sassy Sienna. The trainer's other horses for Flurry include undefeated 3-year-old colt Exclamation Point and unraced 2-year-old colt Trivista, a full brother to Oaklawn 2017 Grade 3 Southwest winner One Liner.
Sports on 06/19/2018