When Mark Schwartz claimed Roan Mountain out of his last start at Parx Racing on Sept. 28, the 4-year-old First Dude gelding was on an in-the-money streak, with a record of 2-4-2-1 in his previous 10 tries. During the streak, Roan Mountain had posted his best-ever Equibase ‘E’ speed figure – a 95 – and in the lone off-the-board performance, he lost his rider in the stretch while trying to avoid a fallen horse. 

    One major facet of the gelding’s career was that he didn’t have a first, second or third in his only three starts on the grass, all as a 3-year-old in 2020. So it was a little surprising when his new owner’s first move was to enter Roan Mountain yesterday in a $30,000 starter optional claimer at a mile and 70 yards on the turf at Parx.

    But Mother Nature stepped in and upset the scenario as the race came off the grass and was switched to the main track, which was labeled ‘muddy.’ The change worked out perfectly for Schwartz, as Abner Adorno guided Roan Mountain to a come-from-behind, 1 1/2-length victory in 1:42.74, earning an exceptional ‘E’ figure of 106, along with a check for $18,000. The gelding bred by Donald Dizney has now won two of his last three starts, raised his career record to 5-6-5 in 24 tries, and broken the $100,000 barrier at $115,440. 

    It will be intriguing to see what surface is slated for the gelding’s next try.