HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Implementation took advantage of hot pace and a clean trip under Manny Franco to win Saturday’s $150,000 Army Mule Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream Park.
Inveigled, the 6-5 favorite, finished second after encountering some traffic at the head of the lane. Howgreatisnate finished third in the field of eight.
Knightsbridge, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, was scratched Saturday morning. Michael Banahan, the director of bloodstock for Godolphin, which owns Knightsbridge, said the team wasn’t happy with the way Knightsbridge was moving Saturday morning.
Implementation, a 6-year-old gelding by Constitution, was coming into the Army Mule – formerly known as the Sir Shackleton – off a solid second to Little Vic in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper on Jan. 25.
Saturday, Implementation got a perfect set up as he was seventh early while Loco Abarrio set fractions of 22.42 seconds for the quarter and 44.70 for the half-mile, chased by Of a Revolution.
Approaching the top of the lane Franco, subbing for an injured Tyler Gaffalione, swung Implementation wide and into the clear and he rallied in the stretch and drew clear late.
Implementation, owned by Ken Ramsey and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.48 and returned $10.80 to win.
“He got a very good trip,” Joseph said. “He was inside and then he was able to get him out. Manny rode him great and he got the right pace to run into.”
Joseph said he’s not sure what might be next for Implementation.
“That’s about as good as he is, he’s just a little bit below graded [company],” Joseph said. “Can he win the right graded race? Yes. Today, I was very proud of him because he normally makes a run and flattens out. Today he sustained the run.”
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