Monday, October 26, 2009

ROSARIO RIDES BERT’S LAW TO 8-1 UPSET IN MENDOCINO PURSE

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2009) – Bert’s Law, at 8-1 the second longest price in a field of seven, survived a pace battle on the front end to gamely prevail by one length over Fire Break Sunday in Oak Tree’s $48,000 Mendocino Purse at one mile over Santa Anita’s Camino Real Turf Course.

It was the first win in the last seven starts for the 4-year-old gelding trained by Ed Moger Jr. who last was victorious in a $16,000 claimer at Hollywood Park on May 30. His winning time on Sunday was 1:34.61.


Joel Rosario, who is battling Rafael Bejarano for the Oak Tree riding title, took the reins on Bert’s Law for the first time and deftly kept the California-bred son of Bertrando going after an early duel with Nitro Active. It was Rosario’s third win of the afternoon and 24th of the meet, which put him two victories ahead of Bejarano.

Fire Break, with Bejarano aboard, finished best of the closers while nodding Blazing Spirit, with Alex Solis in the saddle, by a head for the place. Dynamic Range, the 8-5 favorite, wound up fourth.

Bert’s Law paid $19.20, $8.80 and $6.60. The mutuels on Fire Break were $8.20 and $4.80. The show price on Blazing Spirit was $4.80.

The victory was worth $31,200 to owners Curt and Lila Lanning while bringing the career earnings of Bert’s Law to $162,072 from a 5-2-4 record in 23 starts.

Following a pair of off-days, Oak Tree racing resumes on Wednesday with an eight-race program headed by the inaugural running of the $50,000 California Sky Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course. First post is at 1 p.m.

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