Buzzards Bay wins Californian
What has been an excellent Hollywood Park meet for trainer Ron Ellis got even better on Saturday.
Buzzards Bay, the 2-1 favorite, held off 25-1 longshot Sun Boat to win the $250,000 Californian, giving Ellis his 10th win in 25 starts nearly halfway through the spring-summer season.
After being jostled a bit at the break in the Grade II, Buzzards Bay was able to assume a great position down the backstretch, situated behind A.P. Xcellent and Kip Deville, moved wide into the stretch to take the advantage, then was barely able to withstand the runner-up.
The win was the third in eight starts for the 5-year-old Marco Bay horse since he was purchased for $750,000 by Gary Broad at a 2005 dispersal. Under regular rider Jose Valdivia, Jr., Buzzards Bay, who won the 2005 Santa Anita Derby before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.72.
Next for the Florida bred is the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30, a Grade I that could also lure, among others, two-time defending champion Lava Man and The Tin Man.
“If he comes out of this well, the Gold Cup is in our plans,” Ellis said. “I think a mile and a quarter is a great distance for him. He’s a true mile and a quarter horse. He ran great. It was a good race for only his second one back.”
Buzzards Bay had been idle for nearly 11 months when he was third in the Mervyn LeRoy on May 5.
Gelded after he was claimed for $50,000 by trainer Mike Mitchell, Sun Boat, who had defeated $40,000 claimers on May 13 in his first for his new barn, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of A.P. Xcellent, who lost for the first time in four starts on the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. Boboman, the 5-2 second choice, was fourth.
Wilko finished seventh and Perfect Drift was last.
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Earlier in the day at Hollywood Park, Sindy With An S, the 17-10 favorite, got through on the rail into the stretch and went on to a 1 1/2 -length victory over 7-2 second choice You Are The Answer in the $83,125 Manhattan Beach Stakes.
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Delightful Kiss, a 24-1 shot who was well beaten by Curlin in the Arkansas Derby, collected the biggest win of his career, taking the $300,000 Ohio Derby by 3 1/2 lengths at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio.
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Rutherienne and Bit Of Whimsy both became Grade III winners at Belmont Park in New York, finishing in a dead heat in the $100,000 Sands Point.
The win was the fourth in five starts for Rutherienne, a 3-year-old Pulpit filly owned by breeder Virginia Kraft Payson and trained by Christophe Clement. Bit Of Whimsy won for the second in three starts for owners Joyce Young and Gerald McManis and trainer Barclay Tagg.
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Favorites won both of the Grade III races at Churchill Downs with Lady Joanne taking the $150,000 Dogwood Breeders’ Cup and Fabulous Strike leading throughout to take the $150,000 Aristides Breeders’ Cup.
California shipper Greg’s Gold, who was ridden by David Flores, finished fourth as the 19-10 second choice in the Aristides.
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