Weekend Hideway wins John Morrissey
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » In the paddock prior to Thursday’s $100,000 Morrissey Stakes, trainer Phil Serpe – whose Weekend Hideaway was starting widest of all in the no. 8 post – told jockey Luis Saez, “If he takes you right to the front, that’s fine. Just remember that you have to go 6 ½ (furlongs).”
The advice turned out to be appropriate. Weekend Hideaway broke sharply and after dueling with Eye Luv Lulu, went by that one and established a two-length advantage midway around the turn. The field started closing in approaching the quarter-pole, but Weekend Hideaway cornered well and set sail down the lane.
At the eighth pole, the lead was still two lengths, but Eye Luv Lulu and Celtic Chaos were making up ground. Just when it looked like Weekend Hideaway might be slowing down, he seemed to gather himself and maintain his line, crossing under the wire 1¼ lengths in front of Eye Luv Lulu.
“He loved the mud,” said Saez, who has been Weekend Hideaway’s regular rider for some years. “I loved the way he ran today. When we broke and I saw the speed was not that hot, I let him go and he was energetic. He ran hard in the stretch.”
It was a popular win for the 8-year-old horse, who won for the 13th time in 48 starts. The running time was 1:15.18 over a “muddy (sealed)” but drying surface.
“On fast tracks, I love to see him track a horse a bit and not get used early,” said Serpe. “But when the track is muddy he likes to run, and you’ve just got to let him run. Luis did a great job. I saw these guys coming in deep stretch, and I was getting worried. But you know what? Weekend Hideaway dug in like he’s done so many times before. He rewarded us today and so many other times. He’s just a great horse.”
Celtic Chaos finished a nose short of Eye Luv Lulu for the show. They were followed by Gold for the King, Mighty Zealous, Long Haul Bay (the 6-5 favorite) and T Loves a Fight. Runaway Lute was scratched.
Weekend Hideaway, who races for Red and Black Stable, had to withstand an objection from trainer Brad Cox when Gold for the King had to check when Weekend Hideaway veered inside brieflyin the final sixteenth. After several minutes’ deliberation, stewards allowed the result to stand.
“I’m glad they left him up,” said a relieved Serpe, “because I don’t have enough money to pay the fine for cursing out the stewards for taking an 8-year-old horse down in a race he deserved to win.”
The Morrissey was the ninth stakes win for Weekend Hideaway, who was bred in New York by Flying Zee Stables. Over all, he has seven seconds and nine thirds to go along with the 13 victories in 48 starts. His career earnings stand at $1.134,212.