Despite a less than ideal trip, Casner Racing LP’s Endorsement scored a come-from-behind victory in the $200,000 Texas Mile (G3) on April 28 at Lone Star Park (VIDEO). The 5-year-old son of Distorted Humor, who won the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3), is now two-for-two in stakes races.
The plan for the Texas Mile was to go right to the front, according to trainer Eoin Harty, but Endorsement bumped a rival out of the gate and was relegated to the fourth spot going into the first turn. Robby Albarado bided his time down the backstretch, then urged his mount on around the far turn. Going four wide in the stretch, Endorsement struck the front outside the furlong marker to draw off to a two length win in 1:36.69.
“I want to give full compliments to a very professional jockey,” said Harty. “It was a very professional ride. I told Robby, put this horse on the lead and stay off the fence. Things didn’t work out that way when the gates opened. When you’ve got a cool rider, and experienced rider, you get these results.”
The $110,000 winners share of the purse boosted Endorsement’s lifetime earnings to $585,833 from four wins in eight career starts. The winner was bred in Kentucky by Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership and sold for $450,000 at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale.
“It’s so much fun to win this race at Lone Star Park, in my hometown,” said owner Bill Casner. “This horse is a really special horse. He is a typical Distorted Humor. He’s got so much grit and try. He ran just an incredibly gritty race today, and Robby rode him to a tee. Just couldn’t be happier.”
