Monsoon Raid drenches competition and cements his name for Horse of the Year

Monsoon Rain captured his fifth win in a row with the king of stakes races the Gold Cup.  Trained by Marty Drexler, the 6-year-old son of Old Trieste, settled in behind Rock’n USA and Brinello as the battled for the early lead down the stretch for the first time.

Sitting just outside of stablemate Voorhee’s Ballad going around the first turn, Monsoon Raid reeled in the leaders and took over the lead going into the far turn.  It was all over at that point as Monsoon “The Machine” Rain opened up ten as he made his way home.

“I knew had a shot at something special with this horse,” said trainer Marty Drexler, “this horse trained flawlessly this year and was dead on everyday.

With the win in the Gold Cup, Monsoon Rain will be the top contender for Horse of the Year in the annual HBPA awards which are handed out in March of next year.  Monsoon Rain captured the big three stakes including the both the Wheat City and R. J. Speers for owner Larry Carter, his second time to take home the triactor.  He did it two years ago with Elite Mercedes.

Tejano Trouble, last year’s winner of the Gold Cup, had to settle for second.  Trained by Lianne Knechtel, Tejano Trouble was well back early and rallied but for place only. 

Voorhee’s Ballad, who finished second to Monsoon Rain in both the Wheat City and the R J Speers sat inside the winner for most of the backstretch and was able to pass the tired leaders for third.

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