Well defeateds in New York proceeding a one-turn mile on Sept. 22, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile win Battle of Midway returned to Santa Anita and was wholly prevailing in winning Sunday’s $ 75,000 Comma to the Top Stakes by 4 1\/2 durations under regular rider Flavien Prat. Situation by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 4-year-old Smart Strike colt, who was attaining his third start following a failed tour of duty at stud, got a flat mile in 1:36.87. <\/p>\n
“The key today was get him back to two turns, ” said Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward, in has referred to his fifth home finish in Belmont Park’s Grade II Kelso Handicap. “From here, Jerry would like to go next in the Native Diver( Grade III, 1 1\/8 miles on Nov. 25 at Del Mar ), the San Antonio( Grade II, 1 1\/16 miles here on Dec. 26) and if everything is all very well, the Pegasus( World Cup Invitational, running 1 1\/8 miles at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26 ). ”<\/p>\n
Hustled from his outside post point, Battle of Midway was caught three-wide outside pacesetters St. Joe Bay and All Out Blitz, got on terms with that pair midway all over the far turn and asserted his superiority leaving the one-quarter pole in a powerful effort.<\/p>\n
Off at even money in a field of six 3-year-olds and up, Battle of Midway, who is out of the Concerto mare Rigoletta, paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.40. <\/p>\n
“He’s got a lot of natural acceleration and he decided very nice, ” said Prat. “He’s a very classy horse and the two turns likely helped him today.”<\/p>\n
Owned by Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm<\/a>, LLC, Battle of Midway notched his fourth stakes victory and improved his overall resume to 13 -6- 3-2. With the winner’s share of $47,100, he increased his earnings to $1,349, 049. <\/p>\n Ridden by Martin Garcia, All Out Blitz was off at 31 -1 and paid $13.20 and $6.60 while finishing a half length in front of St. Joe Bay.<\/p>\n St. Joe Bay, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, was off at 6-1 and paid $3.60 to show.<\/p>\n Fractions on the race were 23.23, 46.70 1:11.10 and 1:23.77. <\/p>\n The post Battle Of Midway Scores At Even Money In Comma To The Top<\/a> seemed firstly on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n