SARATOGA SPRINGS — Trainer Christophe Clement had more than one reason to be elated after City Man came from ninth place in a field of 11 to win the $175,000, Grade III Forbidden Apple, Saratoga’s Friday feature race.
The French-born horseman said, “He’s been a bit unlucky lately, so it was fun to have a good trip. And he won well.”
To double his enjoyment, Clement reminded his post-race interviewers, “I did train Forbidden Apple,” a horse that won eight races from 31 starts (most of those stakes) to earn $1.6 million in purse money during his racing career.
City Man’s win also gave the New York breeding program a boost. The 5-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man, who was bred by the Moonstar Farm, is now 7-for-22 on the racetrack and has banked more than $660,000 for Reeves Thoroughbreds and Peter and Patty Seaeries, his owners.
The $96,250 City Man earned in the Forbidden Apple came after he needed some racing luck for most of the mile trip. He and jockey Joel Rosario were a little tardy coming from the gate in the one-mile contest over the Spa’s Inner Turf Course.
They were forced to go six wide around the tight turn at the Union Avenue end of the course.
If trouble was to come, that was the place it was most likely to happen. “For a second, I was passing between horses passing the three-eighths (pole),” Rosario said. “Sometimes, he’s a funny horse (in traffic). But he was handling everything fine.”
Rosario and his charge went on to challenge the leaders at the head of the homestretch. The dark bay horse poked his head in front passing the 16th pole and got home to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Atone and Flavien Prat. The British-bred Public Sector and his rider, Irad Ortiz, Jr., finished third.
Set Piece, the 2-1 favorite who was seeking his fifth win in 15 starts, was last out of the starting gate and could do no better than a sixth-place finish.
City Man’s troubled trips in Belmont Park’s Kingston Stakes and the Grade II Fort Marcy were the prime causes for the betting public almost ignoring him. When the gate opened and the bell rang, he was 12-1 on the odds board.
When the “Official” sign went up after the race, those who did bet $2 on City Man collected $26.60 for the win, $12.60 to place and $7.50 to show.
Atone was worth $7.10 to place and $4.70 to show. Public Sector, the second choice in the wagering at 5-2, paid $3.80 to show.
A $1 exacta with the numbers 10 and 8 paid a hefty $91.25.
Clement planted the seed for a possible stallion career for City Man when his racing days are over.
“He’s a good New York-bred. But, he’s also a good horse,” Clement said. “He won an open stake (the Danger’s Hour) at Aqueduct in April. So let’s all enjoy this and see what’s next.”
