Handlelikeaporsche off to $400,000 Governor’s Cup

Handlelikeaporsche (Lazarus) will now aim for the $400,000 Governor’s Cup on Nov. 26 at The Meadowlands following his turbulent Breeders Crown harness racing performance.

The two-year-old won his third straight race – and fourth of his rookie season – when he captured his Breeders Crown elimination on Oct. 21. But the colt faltered off a second-over trip in the final and faded to 10th.

Trainer and co-owner Chris Ryder has an explanation for the performance though and has no doubts about his colt’s ability.

“He’s fine, he’s healthy, and everything is okay,” Ryder said. “He’s always surely rambunctious and difficult in the post parade, but it’s never turned into a problem, and he’s fine when he goes to the gate, and then the mile is fine. But then last night, he was completely out of control in the post parade, just had a terrible time with him.

“Just got all washed out and took everything out of himself. I wanted to go out at five minutes to post but they wouldn’t let me. […] But anyways, that’s the issue.”

Ryder also said he thinks the issue is fixable and will “get home and try a few things.”

The colt’s two-year-old season has so far seen four wins in eight starts and $253,825 in earnings. He finished second on debut in a New York Sire Stakes division and came back to win one two weeks later. He then placed to Voukefalas, another son of Lazarus, in the series final and again two months later in the New Jersey Classic Series final. Handlelikeaporsche headed into the Breeders Crown off wins in the Bluegrass Stakes – by eight-and-a-quarter-lengths – and International Stallion Stakes – in a new mark of 1:50.1.

Ryder, who co-owns the colt with William Ezzo, Robert Mondillo, and Barry Spak, said he’s pleased with his pupil overall.

“I’ve been really, really happy with him,” he said. “He’s made over 250 (thousand dollars), and we’re always happy to make some money. When he’s right, he’s competitive, so it’s just nice to have a horse that’s able to do that. We’re basically happy with the season. We’d like to finish off a little better, but that happens.”

The Governor’s Cup is four weeks away, leaving a large space to fill. Ryder said he will return home and decide his next moves with Handelikeaporsche. For now though, the colt is the highest-earning offspring of freshman sire Lazarus and has a promising three-year-old season soon to come.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink