If there were any lights burned out on the SA tote board, we should have found them today.  Sent off at nearly 18/1 odds, Greek Poet took the biggest race of his life, winning the SA Hcp (GI) by a half length in a final time of 2:02.49 for the classic mile and a quarter over the beautiful SoCal sky.  Stranger, sent off as the 85/1 outsider was second and Hardline took the third spot.  The exata paid a whopping $3,608.40 while the tri paid $2,032.50.

 The full field of fourteen loaded into the gate… the noise from the large crowd grew, the flag was up… and there were away from the gate in the 2015 SA Handicap!  Out quickly, Niagra was on the gas early, Outward Bound giving chase to that one, then a length back to Flying Warrior and Hardline moving together.  West Northwest from the inside Greek Poet next to that one, Viking Shield on his flank, with In Control.  Another half length back to Stranger from the outside, Dominant Speed to his inside, Flecha Hierro, the back to the rail with Deputy Dynamite.  Back to the far outside, Russian Whisky and Hyper Silver.

Under the wire the first time by and now dashing off into the clubhouse turn with six and a half furlongs to run, Outward Bound wanted the lead and was in front by a length and a half.  Niagra now in second, a length back to Flying Warrior a bit wide, West Northwest back down towards the rail, Greek Poet next to that one and Hardline caught three wide.  Two lengths back to a wall that included Hyper Silver from the far outside, Stranger, Flecha Hierro and In Control.  Viking Shield saving ground, Russian Whisky another length back, Deputy Dynamite and Dominant Speed was now the trailer, nine lengths covered the field.

Now making their way down the backside and into the far turn, moving past the three furlong marker, Outward Bound continued to show the way by a length.  Niagra stalking the leader, another length back to West Northwest on the inside, Greek Poet next to that one, Hyper Silver four wide and Flying Warrior between horses.  Another length and a half back to the foursome of In Control on the rail, Hardline and Stranger out towards the middle of the track, Flecha Hierro just off of and in the middle of the group, two more back to Deputy Dynamite, Russian Whisky on the outside of Dominant Speed and Viking Shield needed to find some more if he wanted to be in this one.

Into the lane… the crowd now getting into this one as there were a ton of horses looking to win The Big Cap!  Niagra sticking a neck in front, Outward Bound digging in and trying to find more, Greek Poet now exploding from the pack and up to look at the leaders, West Northwest still in the middle of it all, Hyper Silver and Stranger down the outside, In Control and Hardline back towards the inside… the rest had a ton of work to do and about a furlong to get it done.

Deep stretch and to the finish, Greek Poet up to take the lead, long-shot Stranger widest of all and flying down the center of the track, a wall of three pushing in behind the leader… but when they hit the wire, this was an upset in the making.  Greek Poet in front and taking the win!  Stranger was able to hold off the others and was a second by a head over Hardline, who nosed out In Control.  Niagra was a hard luck fifth with Deputy Dynaminte another next back in sixth, with Hyper Silver ending on even terms with that one.  West Northwest was eighth, with Outward Bound dead-heating with that one, Russian Whisky in tenth, Flecha Hierro in eleventh, Dominant Speed in twelfth, Flying Warrior, and a disappointing post time favorite Viking Shield closed this one out.

Greek Poet is a 4yo gelded son of HRP-Monarchos – HRP-Rondeau and he was bred in ON by Aces High Ltd.  Claimed for $50.000 back in June of last season, he now shows six wins from eighteen starts and earnings of $1,637.740, with $623.400 of that coming from his two 2016 victories.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast       Time: :47³  1:11²  1:35³  2:00²
$1 Exacta: 3 – 12 Paid 3,608.40         $1 Trifecta: 3 – 12 – 7 Paid 2,032.50
Scratched: Hi Fi, A One

Categories: Grade I