So why the
?
This is where old school handicapping and decades of experience has its benefits.
Gargan has had a solid meet 20(4-5-3) clipping along at 20% and 12 for 20 in the money. A very underrated trainer that had saddled some solid horses this weekend, and things just hadn't really gone his way.
As for the actual horse? One of my all time favorites in Good Magic on top with Colonel John on the bottom. Breeding screams distance and 'stayer'. They started him out at 'Toga in a big time $137K Maiden. He got caught inside and obviously didn't like it like many 1st timers don't like getting caught on the rail getting crowded and getting all the kickback.
Then? They shove him into a 9F Maiden as they knew they had a distance horse. And again, more trouble, but runs a respectable 3rd. Obviously they like this horse as they turn around and put him in the G3 Withers at 9F. Unfortunately they catch a sloppy track, he has more trouble again, and was a non-factor.
So they regroup, get him back in a Maiden race, and he breaks his maiden last out, but yet again on an off track, and had trouble again, but prevailed and pulled away to a 3 length win.
All the while during a rough and troubled 4 starts to his career, his Sheets/Thoros numbers were improving and Rivera had rode him on his 2 best races to date and his late pace figs were solid amid all the trouble he was encountering. So the question I really had for myself was, "What does this horse really have if he actually gets a decent trip on a dry track"? Well, we found out yesterday that he is a pretty decent horse, and at 107/1 you also get paid.