Longshot Harvey Wallbanger wins at Gulfstream Holy Bull

Longshot Harvey Wallbanger makes name in Holy Bull

HALLANDALE BEACH —

Harvey Wallbanger is the new toast of East Coast Kentucky Derby hopefuls. The colt named for the popular cocktail scored a

29-1 shocker in the

$350,000 Holy Bull Saturday at Gulfstream to inject himself into the Kentucky Derby picture.

Harvey Wallbanger went into the Grade 2 stakes off only a win in a maiden race in Kentucky after running second three times. But he showed strong late rallies in his races, which is the style he used to overcome previously undefeated Maximus Mischief, the 4-5 favorite.

Brian Hernandez rode to orders on Harvey Wallbanger. Trainer Kenny McPeek told him, “Let them go. Don’t worry about it. Just tuck in, save some ground and make your run.”

This is exactly what Hernandez did, letting Harvey Wallbanger slip back to last of nine down the backstretch. They didn’t begin to pick it up until the field was going to the far turn. They were still sixth at the top of the lane.

Meanwhile, Maximus Mischief appeared to be going comfortably most of the way. Jose Ortiz settled him into second behind Epic Dreamer, ridden by Jose’s brother Irad, around the first turn. Maximus Mischief remained there down the backstretch, always within striking distance. But when Jose started urging his horse going to the far turn Maximus Mischief didn’t have the kick he did in previous races.

“When I asked him,” Ortiz said, “he wasn’t going the way I wanted him to. I had a hard time catching the horse in front of me.”

They finally did dispose of Epic Dreamer as the field straightened for the stretch run but the exertion to do it might have taken its toll late. Maximus Mischief seemed to be in control until inside the eighth pole when he began to noticeably shorten stride. Harvey Wallbanger slipped through on his inside and 128-1 outsider Everfast was moving stoutly on his outside. They both galloped past Maximus Mischief in the final yards with Harvey Wallbanger getting home a length the better of Everfast, who finished a neck in front of Maximus Mischief. With the heavy favorite out of it, the exacta paid $2,203.

In running a mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.69 Harvey Wallbanger earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in addition to the winner’s share of the purse.

McPeek acknowledged he placed Harvey Wallbanger ambitiously off just a single win but was confident his horse was up to it. “He showed he had some good solid ability. I was thinking he’d rise up to whatever level we put him.”

McPeek went to Harvey Wallbanger’s owner, Harold Lerner, and said, “Let’s find out how good he is.” It wasn’t a hard sell to an owner who thought it would be a hoot to name his horse for a drink. “My wife said to me, ‘You’re not really going to do that, are you?’ ”

McPeek isn’t sure where Harvey Wallbanger will rise up again. He has another talented 3-year-old, Signalman, being pointed toward the Fountain of Youth, the next race on Gulfstream’s road to the Derby, on March 3.

“I’m not saying I won’t run both but I would prefer to keep them apart.”