Locally Owned Upsets Lone Rock In Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational Stakes
Locally Owned (pink cap) wins the Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park.
Since trainer Tom Morley claimed Locally Owned in February, the 5-year-old gelding had seen the inside of the winner's circle only once in five starts until Saturday, when the son of Distorted Humor made his rail trip in the 1 5/8-mile Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational Stakes a winning one. Under jockey Dylan Davis, Locally Owned bided his time in last throughout the early running, picked up the pace on the final turn, and took over the front early in the stretch to win by a length at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
With Lone Rock going into the gate as the 1-9 favorite, all eyes were on the last-out winner of the Birdstone at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. After a clean break, Mo Gotcha took the lead, with Lone Rock stalking him, Davis sitting chilly on Locally Owned in last. Lone Rock stayed close to Mo Gotcha throughout the first mile, poised to bid for the lead coming out of the final turn as Davis moved Locally Owned on the rail.
Into the stretch, they were three across briefly with Locally Owned finding his closing kick as Mo Gotcha tired. Lone Rock made his bid on the outside, but could not find enough to catch the winner. Mo Gotcha, Chris and Dave, and Empty Tomb rounded out the field.
Recommended for You
The final time for the 1 5/8 miles was 2:44.60. Find this race's chart here.
Locally Owned paid $39.00 and $4.10. Lone Rock paid $2.10.
“Dylan [Davis] rode the perfect race. He saved every inch of ground here. It’s amazing that this horse, another claim, comes back and wins a race like this. This is what I dream of and it’s all unfolding finally," owner Jay Provenzano of Flying P Stable told the NYRA Press Office. “If you look at his form, he runs a good race, then runs a clunker, runs a good race, then runs another clunker. He ran a clunker last time, but he ran a good race today.”
“It was exactly what I planned. I wanted my horse to relax at the first turn. I was very happy with my position. It was an opportunity to me to come up the rail. I just wanted to make sure he was performing, and the timing was right," jockey Dylan Davis said after the race. “I took that position because I didn’t want Lone Rock to get the jump early before I did. I wanted to get the jump first. I took the initiative, and he [Locally Owned] took control. He really finished strong at the wire. He really wanted to be there first."
Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings in Kentucky, Locally Owned is out of the Pulpit mare Fiftyshadesofhay. Consigned by Warrendale Sales, the gelding was purchased by GMB Racing for $250,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Owned by Flying P Stable, the gelding has two wins in seven starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of five wins in 24 starts and career earnings of $461,431.
