From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 18, 2020)–It what was a virtual walk in the park, Matt Nelson’s homebred Wound Tight was in complete control throughout as he waltzed to a front-running 3 ½ length victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank for Golden State Series eligibles. Ridden by Abel Cedillo and trained by Bob Hess, Jr., the 5-year-old gelding by top sprinter Coil got a mile and one eighth over the Santa Anita turf in 1:48.24.
A neck and a nose away from having won three straight races, Wound Tight came off of a nose win in a one mile turf allowance at Del Mar on Dec. 1 and was off at 3-1 in a field of eight older horses, returning $8.00, $3.80 and $3.20.
Out of the Mr. Broad Blade mare Bellsblade, Wound Tight was making his first stakes appearance and improved his overall mark to 10-4-2-2. With the winner’s share of $110,000, he now has earnings of $266,340.
“The race set up perfect,” said Gerardo Morales, assistant to Hess. “The horse likes to run on the front end. I was a little concerned about going a mile and an eighth, that it was too far for him, but he definitely got the job done.”
Ward ‘n Jerry, who was shuffled back while in tight quarters early at the rail, saved ground while next to last heading into the Club House turn. Full of run while a joint fourth five sixteenths from home, he proved second best on the day, finishing a half length in front of longshot Cono.
The 2-1 favorite with Umberto Rispoli up, Ward ‘n Jerry paid $3.80 and $2.80.
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Cono was off at 34-1 and paid $8.20 to show.
Fractions, all set by the winner, were 23.39, 48.62, 1:13 flat and 1:36.61.
“This horse is very strong on the lead, said Cedillo. “There was no pace, so he was tough. He never got tired. We came back in front of the grandstand and he still wanted to run.”