Despite Slow Start, $738,220 Worth Equine Makes Epic Comeback at Popular Equestrian Race
Equestrian sports enthusiasts are in for a roller coaster ride in 2023. Every race has been notable, from Grade 1 prizes to Grade 3, and winners have ranged from well-regarded horses to longshots. There have been a number of debates about these gorgeous animals, despite the fact that they provide honor to their jockeys and trainers. Regardless, a 5-year-old thoroughbred started low at Sunday’s Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar yet still managed to win the race. The victory on Sunday for Du Jour, under the tutelage of legendary trainer Bob Baffert, was pure joy for Baffert.
The Wickerr Stakes video quickly gained massive online attention. The exciting conclusion of the race was discussed at length on many online platforms. When it seemed like Du Jour couldn’t possibly win, the 5-year-old actually boosted its “horsepower” down the straight line.
Insane recovery pace of the equine
TVG’s Twitter footage showed that Du Jour was mired in the center of the pack when compared to its equine competitors out of the gate. The 5-year-old thoroughbred was well behind the leading three horses entering the first turn of the race. As the race went on, the middle-pack horses continued switching places on the racecourse. However, something odd occurred at the last round of the stakes. Du Jour surged from behind the field to pass the slower horses and overtake the leaders in the closing stretch of the Wickerr Stakes.
With a furlong to go, Du Jour came from fifth to win by a half-length over 42-1 Flavius and 13-1 I’m a Gambler. The thoroughbred finished a mile race on the grass in 1:34:13, breaking a losing run of almost two years. Hit the Road came in fourth, followed by Cash Equity, Irideo, Cathkin Peak, Count of Amazonia, Restrained Vengence, Evening Sun, Time to Party, Salesman, and Lamplighter Jack. The famed horse trainer Bob Baffert, who is worth $345,481,412, trained Du Jour, ridden by the $71,356,267 Juan Hernandez. They were also the proud human friends of the winning equine.
The thoroughbred’s renowned trainer may now look forward to entering Du Jour in more races after this spectacular victory.
A stellar equestrian career
On March 15, 2018, Du Jour entered the world. This 5-year-old gelding was sired by the Graded stakes-podium finisher Temple City. The equestrian career of Du Jour began in 2020. This one, though, won the Santa Anita Maiden race in February 2021. The gelding’s most famous victory took place in Louisville, where the Kentucky Derby is held. The horse stunned the equestrian world with victory in the American Turf S. presented by Derby City Gaming (Gr. 2) at Churchill Downs on May 1, 2021.
Du Jour has been running in graded-stakes races since 2021, but he has yet to win one. Although he hasn’t won a race since the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (Gr. 1), Thunder Road Stakes (Gr. 3), and Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (Gr. 1), he has finished on the podium all three times. However, the horse surprised everyone by winning the 2023 Wickerr Stakes with his incredible straight-line speed. As his legendary trainer, Bob Baffert plans for the future of the thoroughbred, the horse’s lifetime earnings have reached $738,220.
