Even after Rondelito defeated his favored stablemate, Mount Doom, in the $40,000, 6 1/2-furlong Ross McLeod Stakes on June 14, trainer Steve Henson thought Mount Doom was the better horse. After Saturday's $50,000, 1 1/16-mile Chris Loseth Handicap at Hastings Racecourse, which was restricted to 3-year-olds, Henson may want to reconsider that.
Rondelito broke slowly while Mount Doom, the 3-5 post-time favorite, broke sharply, with Mount Doom carving out modest fractions of 23.81 seconds for the quarter-mile and 47.93 for the half on the lead alongside Kyalam.
With three furlongs to go, Rondelito made a major move, surging to the front and closing the book on the two early leaders. Accidental Genius chased him doggedly in the stretch, but Rondelito ($8.20) held him off by three-quarters of a length for the win.
Kyalam finished well back in third, while Mount Doom was a disappointing fourth. Rondelito, owned by Henson's wife, Lorie, covered the distance in 1:45.15. There was no show wagering due to only four entrants.
Supernaturel
One of Hastings's most temperamental 3-year-old fillies, Chi Chi Time, was a 1-5 favorite when loaded into the gate for Saturday's $50,000 Supernaturel at 1 1/16 miles. But after she and the 50-1 shot to her inside, Gimlet, acted up in the gate, they were scratched by stewards, rendering the Supernaturel a four-horse race.
After roughly a five-minute delay, the odds were recalibrated, with I'm in Control going off as the 4-5 favorite and quickly seizing the lead. Someday Lady was virtually stride for stride with her from the jump, with the two setting leisurely fractions of 23.81 seconds for the quarter-mile and 49 flat for the half.
Someday Lady, who'd been racing poorly at Santa Anita and Turf Paradise this year after an excellent 2-year-old campaign at Hastings that saw her win two stakes races, put a head in front of I'm in Control midway through the race and firmly asserted herself in the stretch, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.
Breezin Brianne finished third, with Another Last Dance bringing up the rear. Someday Lady, trained by Cindy Krasner, paid $5.30 to win and finished in 1:46.12.
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