Stayers' Watch: San Luis Rey Handicap · 20.03.10
Almost exactly four weeks after his victory in the San Luis Obispo Handicap, Bourbon Bay showed emphatically that it was no fluke by dominating the San Luis Rey Handicap (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita.
The odds-on favourite was perfectly positioned almost from the start of the race, despite bobbling coming out of the gate. He stalked Quasicobra’s quick early pace (:46 for the half-mile, 1:36.30 for the mile), then took the lead nearing the quarter-pole. Under steady urging from jockey Rafael Bejarano, Bourbon Bay drew off for a convincing 2 1/2 length score. Longshot (50-1) Romp rallied down the stretch to take second a head in front of Sudden War. Time for 1 1/2 miles over firm ground: 2:24.08.
The 4-year-old gelding Bourbon Bay has now won three straight stayers’ races. Trainer Neil Drysdale uttered the understatement of the year when he said after the race, “I think he’s getting the hang of it”. Drysdale also said that Bourbon Bay would likely start next in either the San Juan Capistrano Handicap on April 18, or the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland five days later.
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