29TH BACHELOR STAKES

Potential realized by Counterforce

Jockey Florent Geroux celebrates aboard Counterforce after winning the Bachelor Stakes on Friday at Oaklawn Park.
Jockey Florent Geroux celebrates aboard Counterforce after winning the Bachelor Stakes on Friday at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS -- Jockey Florent Geroux had never seen his mount prior to the 29th running of the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Friday.

He came away impressed.

Counterforce, with Geroux aboard, came rolling on the outside to chase down I Will Score to post a 2-length victory in the $150,000 race for 3-year-olds.

"I'd seen his two previous races on TV," Geroux said. "He seemed to be a very nice horse, and number wise he was almost the fastest in there. It looks like he's got a bright future."

Counterforce covered the 6-furlong race in 1:10.68.

All three of Counterforce's races have come at Oaklawn Park. The dark brown horse scored a victory in his maiden effort on March 5 and followed that with a second-place effort in a $50,000 allowance race three weeks later. Trainer Steve Asmussen said his horse started his career late because of "a little shin."

"We had him at Churchill last fall, and he was showing a ton of ability," Asmussen said. "He's a very talented horse. We put three races in him a little close together, but obviously he's going to have a nice future. We'll give him a little break off of that. He'll go to Churchill right away. He won't run Derby Week, but there are a lot of good races for him this summer."

Counterforce paid $9.00, $4.60 and $3.20. I Will Score, with Martin Garcia in the saddle, paid $3.60 and $3.20. Texas Chrome showed and paid $4.40.

Breaking from the rail, Will Munnings led from the start until the 16th pole before fading to fifth. I Will Score, who was on Will Munnings' heels from the beginning, passed the early leader with about a furlong to go but did not have enough to hold off the hard-charging winner.

"For his first start over this track, he put in a great effort," Garcia said of the Triple Crown nominated I Will Score. "We just sat off the pace, and when I asked him for run, he gave it to me. He's been running against some tough horses in California and got beat today by a nice horse."

With Will Munnings setting blazing fractions of 21.50 and 44.80 at the first two calls, Counterforce and Geroux settled in nicely near the back of the seven-horse field. Counterforce was sixth at the quarter pole and fifth at the halfway point before moving up to third at the top of the stretch. From there, he steered to the outside and cruised past his remaining competitors to finish full of run.

"It set up really well for him," Asmussen said. "It did. I would expect him to run further next time."

"I was able to save ground and save some horse," Geroux said. "They went plenty fast early on. My horse just kept following them. When I tipped him out turning for home, he kicked on very nicely."

Counterforce earned $90,000 for his owners Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Sports on 04/16/2016

Upcoming Events