Citation Handicap Grade One
For Three-year-olds and Upwards
A mile and a sixteenth on the turf
At
Hollywood
Park
November 26, 2011
For a purse of $250.000
It was a really small field that contested the Citation Handicap GI and there was no clear cut favorite as each of these horses were trying to become a Grade One winner. The journey of a mile and sixteen was a trying one for some where as it was right up the alley for others and seeing as though there were no real threats in the race anything could happen.
The field got off to a fairly even start which saw Bold Pretender and Turnstile fighting it out for the early lead and Jump the Border staying close enough but out of the speed duel up front. Entering the clubhouse turn Turnstile was taken wide by the jock and lost a few ground and that left the door wide open for Jump the Border to take advantage, Bold Pretender was still comfortable on the lead.
On the back stretch Jump the Border drew alongside Bold Pretender adding pressure to him as they approached the half. Turnstile was still at the back but not too far off. The front runners entered the far turn and was about to kick on for home but before that could happen Jump the Border caught up to Bold Pretender and they were now eye and eye still a few lengths back Turnstile was moving but not gaining fast enough.
At the top of the stretch both Bold Pretender on the rail and Jump the Border to his outside were stride for stride and looked as though they were going to hit the wire that way, but Jump the Border was relentless in his efforts and the jockey continues to pump and work and Jump the Border responded and inched away towards the wire to win by a quarter length over the longtime leader Bold Pretender, Turnstile was not disgraced as he fought hard in the end but this was just not his day and he was third and last.
Jump the Border is a four-year-old gelding bred in
Florida by Running Farms and he is now owned and trained by the ever consistent Pan Farms. The mile and sixteen distance on the turf was covered in a fast 1:39:34 almost a full second of the track record.
