Harpers First Ride Targets Repeat in $100,000 Deputed Testamony
At 0h02, on July 31, 2021 • By PIMLICO
GMP Stables, Arnold Bennewith and Cypress Creek Equine’s Grade 3 winner Harpers First Ride and Maryland’s leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez, who celebrated a successful reunion last month, will look to keep their mojo going Saturday in defense of last year’s victory in the $100,000 Deputed Testamony at historic Pimlico Race Course.
The Deputed Testamony is among three $100,000 stakes on a nine-race program, joined by the Challedon for 3-year-olds and up and Alma North for fillies and mares 3 and older, both sprinting six furlongs. All three races are part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series.
First race post time is 12:40 p.m.
Harpers First Ride, 5, and Gonzalez, a 44-year-old who has topped the state’s overall trainer standings since 2017, have proven to be an ideal partnership. Claimed on behalf of Robert D. Bone for $30,000 out of a maiden claiming win Sept. 14, 2019 at Churchill Downs, they have teamed up for 10 wins, four in stakes, with two seconds and a third in 16 subsequent starts.
The most recent came in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance June 27 at Pimlico, where the Paynter gelding circled the field and drew off to a 1 ¼-length triumph under Angel Cruz, who has been aboard for six wins including all four stakes. Harpers First Ride had gone winless in three starts for trainer Robertino Diodoro after being sold privately prior to his run in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park.
“The owners called me and we talked about it and they asked if I would take him back, and I said, ‘Yes, sure,’” Gonzalez said. “It’s tough when you’re a trainer and you don’t know the horse. They have to figure it out. He tried his best and when he came back the horse was in really good condition.
“He’s doing good. After the last race he came back really happy, like he knows he won the race,” he added. “After that he’s been training every day like before when I had him and I think he is in good shape for the race.”
