From DRF.com
Foot issues prompted trainer John Kimmel to change the type of shoes Mandatory wears in his races and the change has brought about a remarkable reversal of fortune.
A 7-year-old gelding by American Pharaoh who won once in his first 20 starts, Mandatory seeks a third straight win Friday at Aqueduct when he runs in a first-level allowance scheduled for 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.
Kimmel said in the days following a fifth-place performance in a starter allowance on Jan. 27, Mandatory was having difficulties with his feet. The decision was made to switch from a regular aluminum shoe to glue-on shoes. In his first start in the new shoes, Mandatory won a $40,000 claiming race by 12 3/4 lengths and earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, a huge number for that level.
In his first work back after that race, Mandatory breezed a half-mile in a rapid 46.40 seconds, much quicker than expected. A week later, Mandatory won a starter allowance by 1 3/4 lengths, with an 85 Beyer.
“He won that race but it wasn’t the same way he ran the time before,” Kimmel said, adding that the quick work “was almost like he had a race in between races. This time, I said, ‘We’re not going to work him between races.’ ”
Mandatory drew the outside post in this six-horse field and was redden by Manny Franco, as Dylan Davis, aboard for the two most recent wins, is in Dubai to ride Pandagate in Saturday’s UAE Derby at Meydan.
Mandatory broke on top and settled into 3rd, letting the leaders duel it out. Closing the gap in the turn, Mandatory made his bid just off the bend, held off a challenge from the inside and won by 1 1/4 lengths.
The win was the 10th with trainer John Kimmel, and the 3rd of the year as he takes the lead in our trainer standings. Manny Franco also won his 3rd race of the year as he also took the lead in our jockey standings for the year.