It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.  That certainly proved true for 2-year-0ld LONGHI, making his first start at Colonial Downs this evening.

“Slammed out of the gate,” he and Jorge Ruiz settled toward the back of the pack. Saving ground into the turn, the pair had to slip through traffic before swinging wide at the top of the stretch. While it seemed he had too much left to do, Longhi saw daylight and launched. He “closed full of run on the left lead and drew away to prove best under a drive,” hitting the wire 4 3/4 lengths in front.

“He got hit hard and was knocked out of the race,” Jorge said. “But he has a winning mentality. What I did today was stay calm with him and teach him. He was a little uncomfortable when the sand hit his face, but he gained confidence, and we connected to win in the quarter. When I took him out, he started running to win. When he runs on the grass, he’ll do much better. He’s a great horse.”

The gray colt is another homebred for Wertheimer and Frere. By multiple Group 1 winner Caravaggio, he is out of Lovely Moment (ARG), by Equal Stripes (ARG). Today’s race was a 5 1/2 furlong maiden special weight on Colonial’s main track. Congratulations to Longhi’s breeder/owners, and thanks to Jorge for a terrific ride!