INGLEWOOD, Calif. (May 7, 2008) - Odds-on favorite Tropic Storm caught pacesetter Declan's Moon at the head of the stretch and held off All Man in the final sixteenth to win Thursday's $58,000 feature by 1¼ lengths under jockey Aaron Gryder.
Tropic Storm covered 7½ furlongs in 1:27.10 to post his fourth career victory, an effort which might earn him a start in the Ack Ack Handicap here June 7.
"That's the plan right now," trainer Craig Dollase said of the West Point Thoroughbreds' color bearer. "He broke well, tracked just off Declan's Moon, and when he (Gryder), asked him, he gave it to him. He's a nice horse."
Tropic Storm, a 4-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic, has finished in the money in seven of nine starts. The winner's share of $34,800 raised the Florida-bred's earnings to $168,960.
Tropic Storm, the second straight winner on the card for Gryder, paid $3, $2.20 and $2.10. All Man, ridden by Martin Pedroza, returned $3.60 and $2.60. The show payoff on Cesc was 3.60.
Declan's Moon, the 2-year-old champion of 2004, faded to fifth in the field of six.
