On Monday, Gas Me Up made a remarkable debut on Santa Anita’s distinctive hilly turf course, coming from behind to claim a 13-1 upset victory in the six-and-a-half furlong $200,000 Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, with jockey Mirco DeMuro aboard.
Previously trained by Canada’s Kevin Attard, Gas Me Up had finished seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on November 1. Following that, he returned to the care of Santa Anita-based trainer Peter Arton, who had developed the 5-year-old gelding during his early years.
In the race, Gas Me Up and DeMuro started off slowly, falling back over 10 lengths as the 80-1 longshot Schwartzmeier set a fast early pace with the first quarter mile in 20.91 seconds. Gas Me Up was last through the half mile in 42.82 seconds but began a strong rally afterward. With less than a sixth of a mile remaining, Gas Me Up overtook the leader Sumter, who went off at 7-1 odds, and won by three-quarters of a length. Sumter, ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Richard Mandella, finished second, two lengths ahead of Geo Joe (21-1), placed third.
Jockey DeMuro, riding Gas Me Up for the first time, praised the horse’s resilience and excellent footing throughout the race. Gas Me Up completed the course in 1:10.88. Trainer Arton expressed surprise and delight at the horse’s strong performance, noting the impressive progression Gas Me Up had made.
Owned by Exline-Border Racing, Michael Jawl, Aaron Kennedy, and Tom Zwisler, Gas Me Up’s co-owner Justin Border discussed the strategic trainer and location change. He explained that with the EP Taylor turf course closed and a limited schedule for the horse’s age group, the decision to race at Santa Anita’s downhill course was a well-aligned move that paid off.
Gas Me Up’s record now stands at 11 starts with 5 wins, 1 second, and 1 third, amassing earnings over $430,000. The horse paid $28.20, $13.20, and $8.80 for win, place, and show respectively. Sumter paid $8.00 and $5.00, while Geo Joe returned $11.60.
Live racing is set to continue on Wednesday with a special nine-race card, starting at noon, after recent rainstorms delayed the Classic competition’s opening.
Fan Take: This exciting upset victory by Gas Me Up highlights how a well-planned trainer and course switch can revive a horse’s career, offering a thrilling narrative for racing fans. It underscores the unpredictable, dynamic nature of horse racing that keeps the sport compelling and full of surprises.
