More Than Ready’s brilliant turf marathon specialist passed the entire field in the stretch to win Friday’s $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at Del Mar.
Say the Word has wins in the Northern Dancer Turf (G1) and Elkhorn S. (G2) and has placed in six other graded stakes. The 6-year-old has won $822,792 for Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm, the latter also the dark bay’s breeder.
Say the Word generally saves his best running for late, and did so once again Friday. He was last of seven for most of the 1 ½-mile trip. Acclimate led the field nearly the entire way, but came under intense pressure as the field bunched up at the top of the stretch. Kent Desormeaux took Say the Word five wide to roll by the field, besting Acclimate by a length in 2:27.62 on the firm turf.
“This horse has had so much trouble before this; it was great to see him win,” winning trainer Phil D’Amato said. “Kent did like he said he would and kept him covered up, then go him clear in the stretch and let him stretch his legs.”
A winner of the Sovereign Award in Canada, Say the Word is from a regally-bred Samson family. His third dam is three-time Sovereign Award winner and Eclipse winner Dance Smartly, who produced Grade I winner and fellow Canadian champion Dancethruthedawn. Say the Word also hails from the family of GISW Moreno and GSW sire Dance With Ravens. The winner is the first foal out of Danceforthecause and her second foal was GSW Rideforthecause. Say the Word is one of More Than Ready’s 97 graded stakes winners and 212 black type winners worldwide.
