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Horse Racing News and Commentary |
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Heetseeker bombs the million-dollar Big Cap |
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Written by Gohorsepower.com
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Saturday, 01 March 2008 |
 Irish-bred Heatseeker, piloted by Rafael Bejarano, took the $1 million, Grade 1, Santa Anita Handicap by 3/4 of a length over a determined Go Between on Saturday. As expected, front-running Monterey Jazz, winner of the Strub Stakes lead the field of 14 at full-throttle early in the race. However, Monterey Jazz came into the top of the lane out of gas after extending his lead by as many as twelve lengths under jockey Russell Baze, who was not able to relax the horse. Heatseeker paid $16 to win, the $1 Exacta with Go Between returned $44.80. Champs Elysees fills out the $1 Tri for $528,80, and Tiago was fourth for a $1Superfecta that paid $3,872.10.
The final time for the 1 1/4 mile handicap was 2:00.04.
The 2008 Big Cap was the first for the winner's trainer, Jerry Hollendorfer, whose regular rider of choice is Russel Baze.
It was also the first ever Santa Anita Handicap for the nearly 50-year-old, Northern-California-based, Russell Baze, who holds the record for more than 10,000 wins in North America, but has never won a million-dollar race.
Recommended:
Heatseeker flashes firepower - Race Replay with Blood-horse report - NTRA.com
Heatseeker pulls upset - NBC Sports
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