Novogratz Racing Stables’ recent Forego Stakes winner Surly Furious needed just two weeks rest to find the winner’s circle once again at Turfway Park, this time in Saturday’s $125,000 Dust Commander.
The ultra-consistent Surly Furious, who won the 6 ½-furlong Forego Stakes, stretched out in distance for the 1 1/16-mile Dust Commander and dusted his rivals by an impressive eight lengths for trainer Glenn Wismer and jockey Abel Cedillo. The son of Upstart stopped the clock in 1:42.64.
In the Dust Commander, Surly Furious broke well leaving the starting gate and was positioned in sixth while the fleet-footed Gunton Roe led the field into the first turn through a quarter-mile in a comfortable :24.20. Cedillo kept Surly Furious positioned at the rail as they moved to the backside while Santorini and jockey Alex Achard engaged to the outside of Gunton Roe. At the three-eighths pole, Surly Furious made a bold move and began to quickly pass horses while switching to the two-path. At the quarter-pole, Cedillo tipped Surly Furious to the outside of Santorini and Gunton Roe and easily powered clear to the wire.
Kitodan rallied to finish second at odds of 10-1. He was followed in order by Santorini, Wizard of Westwood, Common Bond, El Kabong, Quadra Island, Transect and Gunton Roe.
Surly Furious, who was made the 3-1 second choice in the wagering behind 2-1 favorite Wizard of Westwood, returned $8.90, $5.16 and $3.60. Kitodan, ridden by Walter Rodriguez, paid $9.50 and $4.38 while Santorini returned $3.44.
With his victory in the Dust Commander, Surly Furious banked $74,219 to improve his overall earnings to $579,293. His record now stands at a solid 27-8-3-4.
