Response Time has all the answers in Timonium Distaff
Frank Vespe- August 26, 2023
“We love the racing game. And when you go through it, you go through some tough times. I own 15 horses, and we haven’t won in six months,” David Hughes of Mens Grille Racing was saying Saturday afternoon.
He was able, however, to say it with a certain amount of relief after watching Response Time, his five-year-old Mosler mare, register a sharp 1 ¼-length score in the featured $75,000 Timonium Distaff at Timonium. It was Response Time’s eighth career win and pushed her bankroll to more than $445,000.
That makes her Mosler’s richest offspring, said Mike Pons of Country Life Farm, which bred Response Time.
The Distaff was arguably the highest quality offering at the Big T in years, drawing a field of seven after scratches that featured half-million dollar earners Princess Kokachin and Malibu Beauty and the Kenny McPeek-trained stakes winner Semble Juste, along with the winner.
The scratch this morning of the David Jacobson trainee Self Isolation took a major speed player out of the equation and appeared likely to leave Princess Kokachin loose on the lead.
“I was a little worried [after the scratch],” Hughes allowed. “The last time [Response Time] ran here, she didn’t run as well.”
The Jerry Robb-trained Princess Kokachin was away alertly to lead, as expected. But jockey Jeiron Barbosa immediately put Response Time in the race, pressing the leader through a 23.53-second opener and getting her head in front following a half in 46.93.
“That was part of the strategy, to try to get to the lead and hoping the other horse would step back,” Hughes said.
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Princess Kokachin’s speed is unquestioned, but, though she’s had a terrific career, with a dozen wins and more than $500,000 in the bank, distance limitations have kept her from an absolutely stellar one. Four times in her last dozen starts, she has led stakes races with less than an eighth of a mile to go only to taste defeat.
The 6 ½-furlong distance of the Distaff figured to test Princess Kokachin, and the heat applied by Response Time and Barbosa did the rest. Princess Kokachin faded to finish fifth, while Response Time took over entering the far turn and proved resolute in holding off the determined late run of Malibu Beauty for the win.
Running time for the 6 ½ furlonggs on a fast track was 1:16.79.
Malibu Beauty held second, while Deco Strong was along for third. Response Time, off as the 7-2 third choice, paid $9.00 to win. The exacta returned $14.50 for a one-dollar wager. Remarkably enough, favorites went 0-for-9 on the day.
Trainer Hamilton Smith said he expects to point Response Time to the Maryland Million, which is scheduled for October 14 at Laurel Park.
Meanwhile, after wandering in the wilderness these last six months, Hughes was happy to enjoy the moment.
“She’s great. She’s been carrying the stable,” he said of Response Time. “It feels great – pretty exciting.”
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