IT isn’t often you get a price on a horse who dropped a photo in a stakes race last out, but you will today with Hoyle in Belmont Park’s Grade 3, $150,000 Lexington Handicap for 3-year-olds going 11/4 miles on turf.
Hoyle, trained by Gary Sciacca, is still eligible for a “non-winners of two other than” allowance, winning just two of 16 starts. But that record is not a true indicator of his ability.
The son of Dehere has finished in the money in seven of nine starts on the lawn, with a victory and three seconds in his last four, those losses coming by three-quarters of a length, a neck and a head. He is coming off a superb effort in the Grade 3 Hill Prince here June 13 at 11/8 miles, when he just missed catching wire-to-wire upsetter Time Off at the wire.
“Hoyle deserved to win that race,” Sciacca said. “He was dead game at the finish after being down inside horses and in the next jump after the wire he was in front.
“The fact he ran a mile and an eighth, was close to the pace but still finished well makes me think he can get a mile and a quarter.”
Sciacca sees Hoyle getting a perfect trip in the Lexington under new rider Aaron Gryder. Robbie Davis, who rode him in the Hill Prince, opted to ride Green Fee in the Lexington because Sciacca wasn’t sure whether Hoyle would run in this spot or a grass stakes next week at Delaware Park.
“Breaking from post 2 he’ll be third or fourth on the hedge, just sitting a couple of lengths behind the two speed horses, Special Coach and Mythical Gem, waiting to make his run. In the Hill Prince nobody ran with Time Off and he got away with a slow first half, but we’re going to have a little bit of pace in this race.”
Sciacca, who picked out Hoyle two summers ago at the Saratoga yearling sale, where he was purchased by owner Lee Pokoik for $130,000, said, “I’ve always liked this colt. He always showed a lot of potential.
“Now his Beyers (speed figures) are getting better, he’s acting better around the barn, he looks good and is holding his weight. He’s established himself now.”
Play Hoyle to win and place. Use him in exactas and trifectas with Monkey Puzzle, Major Hero and Temptation Bound.