Saturday, August 16, 2008

FAVORED SWEETER STILL SCORES IN GRASS FEATURE AT DEL MAR

DEL MAR, CA -- Lanzman Racing Stable and Jason Wood's Sweeter Still, an Irish-bred filly by Rock of Gibraltar, powered up late under Garrett Gomez and scored by a length a quarter Friday at Del Mar in the featured $85,880 Sandy Blue Handicap.

The dark-hued lassie was a solid favorite in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies traveling a mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course and she walked her beat with some late encouragement from the 2007 Eclipse Award-winning rider. She returned $4.20, $2.60 and $2.40 across the board.


Finishing second was Thrash, Ike and Dawn's Dawn Before Dawn ($4.60 and $3.20), a head in front of Denes and Woelfel's Gorgeous Goose ($3.40).

Time for the mile was a quick 1:34.25.

The winner was making the ninth start of her career – the first having come in her native land last year before she was sent Stateside to race at the end of 2007. The victory was her fourth and the $51,528 winner's purse pushed her bankroll to $265,361.

The tally was the second of the day for Gomez, who now has 20 wins through the first 27 days of this 43-day meet. Leading rider Rafael Bejarano also scored twice during the afternoon and now has 29 firsts to lead his closest rival -- Joel Rosario -- yet another who scored a double on the day -- by two winners.

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