Black Astor and jockey Joseph Talamo win the Grade II, $150,000 Sunset Handicap on closing day.
©BENOIT PHOTO
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 19, 2009) — Jockey Joseph Talamo, playing cat and mouse on the lead, guided 6-1 outsider Black Astor to a two-length victory over odds-on favorite Spring House in the $150,000 Sunset Handicap on Sunday’s closing day program at Hollywood Park.
Black Astor opened a big lead early, got a rest on the backstretch as Talamo allowed the gap to close, then finished strongly to win the 68th running of the 1 ½-mile marathon in 2:27.10 on the Lakeside Turf Course.
Porfido finished another half-length back of Spring House in third, while second-choice Obrigado finished last in the field of four.
JOE TALAMO, BLACK ASTOR, Winner: “He’s such a neat horse. He’s got such a big heart that when he gets to the lead he wants to just keep going. When he went that slow first quarter I said, ‘man they’re going to have trouble catching him.’ That’s the first time he’s relaxed like that on a loose rein. I can’t really take all the credit. He was pretty much the only speed in the race and was able to open up early without taking a lot out of him.”
ALEX SOLIS, SPRING HOUSE, Second: “I really can’t take anything away from the winner, but I had to move a little earlier than I wanted to. This late in the meeting the course favors speed so it’s harder to come from behind.”
LISA LEWIS, BLACK ASTOR, Winner: “I thought that the horse is a marathon type horse but until they actually go the distance you don’t know. I can’t say this was my plan, first race back to go a mile-and-one-half, so I was a little concerned about that. I thought he was training pretty good, but until they go a mile-and-one-half, you just don’t know. He’s a fast horse. He’s not just a plodder; he’s a real fast horse. The time surprised me. I was surprised that he was that far in front and they were going so slow. I’m hoping for the Del Mar Handicap.”
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