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San Francisco Mile Won By Specialist
By
COZMAN
May 1, 2011,
8:22:04 AM
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4/30/11 GG Post Time 5:25EDT
RACE 6 GG San Francisco Mile (GIII)
$150.000 4yo&Up 1m Turf
Sarah Stables' seems to own the Energizer Bunny... Specialist just keeps going and going and going and... nine starts, five wins, four seconds and now you can add the San Francisco Mile (GIII) to that list of wins as the 5yo stud tracked the early pace, battled through the lane and got clear late to win by a length in a snappy 1:32.72. .30/1 favorite Trench Bismo was second, with Dense Turf a length back in third.
The field of five were off with Trench Bismo away quickly from the rail, First Light from the far outside. Specialist next to that one, then Spiritual Fusion and Dense Turf.
Around the clubhouse turn and onto the back stretch, five furlongs to run, Trench Bismo on the rial, First Light next to that one, a neck back. Specialist running along by himself, two lengths behind the lead duo, then two more back to Dense Turf on the Rail and Spiritual Fusion next to him.
Down the backside and nearing the far turn and past the three-eighth's pole, Trench Bismo showed the way by a lengths. First Light looked to be shortening up a bit as Specialist now inched forward. A gap of two back to Dense Turf, still skimming the hedge and Spiritual Fusion next to him.
Swing around the far turn and into the lane, they made their way to the furlong marker and Trench Bismo had led every step of the way. However, Specialist was now just a neck back and striding forward. It was a gap of three lengths back to the battle for the minor money but the race to wire was on.
Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, O Figueroa had Specialist right were he wanted him - in front and drawing away with each stride, and they went under the wire in front by a widening length. Trench Bismo settled for the runner-up spot, a length in front of Dense Turf. Spiritual Fusion was fourth with First Light tiring to close out the field.
Specialist is a 5yo by entire by HRP-Speak John - HRP-Mien, and he was bred by his owner, Sarah Stables, in PA. This was his fifth win from nine starts, and his first stakes victory... sure to not be his last! He now has $249.800 in earnings.
$2 Mutuel Prices:
Track: Firm Time: :231 :462 1:093 1:323
$1 Exacta: 4 - 1 Paid 2.70 $1 Trifecta: 4 - 1 - 2 Paid 47.60
Scratched: None
RECAP Specialist settled in behind the early pace while unhurried, steady gain to reach contention into the lane, pulling away late. Trench Bismo broke alertly, set the pace throughout, caught late stretch, could not hold off winner. Dense Turf was taken back shortly after the break, good late foot. Spiritual Fusion sat well off of the early pace, some late gain. First Light pressed the leader to the far turn, gave way.
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