Article published on 17 November 2010
Stunning Stag Leaves Rivals Behind in Autumn Stakes
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Under talented jockey Gerry Olguin, 6-year-old Stunning Stag chalked up only his second career win in the 1 1/6 mile outing over synthetic Polytrack, beating seven older and more experienced rivals as he went.
From the start, Olguin allowed the gelding to settle near the back of the field, while an overly enthusiastic Lord Justice set a blistering pace up front to forge himself a 3 1/2-length lead, before eventually tiring.
It was only halfway through the far turn that Olguin moved Stunning Stag five wide and asked for more. The gelding answered by powering up the field until only the favoured Southdale lay between him and the line.
Spurred on by Olguin, Stunning Stag overtook Southdale at the eighth pole and continued to motor on until he crossed the line first, 3 3/4-lengths clear. Smart Bid finished second ahead of Perfect Bullet in third.
Said the winning jockey after the race, 'I just tried to be as patient as I could with him because he's got a nice quarter-mile kick. I didn't care where I was going to be laying, I just wanted to use him the last quarter.'
Stunning Stag completed the race in a fast time of 1:42.75, which was only .53 of a second off the Polytrack set by True Metropolitan in 2007. He returned a none-too-shabby $10.30 to betting fans that backed him.
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