Last Judgment became Congrats’ newest stakes winner on Jan. 16 with a commanding score in the Sunshine Classic at Gulfstream Park, drawing off in the stretch to win by 6 1/2-lengths.
After several sprint races in the latter half of 2020, Last Judgment was stretching out to 1 1/8-miles for the first time on Saturday. Showing plenty of speed right from the outset, he led the field by a length after a comfortable half-mile in :47.57. In front by a similar margin after six furlongs, he easily pulled away from Noble Drama at the top of the stretch and was all alone at the finish, completing the distance in 1:49.76 on a fast track.
“We knew he was a class horse. I followed this horse from the beginning of his career. When he was in for a tag in New York, I had two races in mind. I had this race and the Ocala races, which unfortunately were cancelled due to COVID, so at least we got this,” owner Michael Dubb said. “He had previous form at Gulfstream, seemed like he liked the track, seemed versatile enough where anywhere from seven furlongs to a mile and an eighth would be in his wheelhouse. (Trainer) Mike Maker is excellent at stretching horses out, so it’s nice when it all goes according to plan.”
Last Judgment, 5, is owned by Dubb along with Steve Hornstock, Bethlehem Stables and Nice Guys Stables, and is now 6-0-1 in 14 starts and has earned $273,365. He was bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds.
Congrats is annually a top-10 sire of winners and has sired more than 100 black type horses and 40 black type winners lifetime. He is standing this year at WinStar for $7,500 S&N.
