No Mistakes for Gaff in Thursday Feature at Churchill Downs
by: Jennifer Stevens
Louisville, KY (June 28, 2007) --
Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Gaff stalked the pace before surging in midstretch to score a widening 3 1/2-length victory in Thursday’s featured race at Churchill Downs, a $58,500 allowance optional claimer for three years olds and up at five furlongs on turf.
Favored in the field of seven, Gaff broke well and was settled four-wide early by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, that pair tracking a moderate pace set by Chief What It Is and Sgt. Bert. Gaff came on boldly when asked on the far turn and drew even with the pacesetters at the top of the stretch before again accelerating to score an easy victory at the wire. Bred in Kentucky by Earle Irving Mack, Gaff completed the five furlongs in :58.24 over a turf course rated “firm” and returned $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10. Sgt. Bert, with Rafael Bejarano aboard, hung on for second and paid $5.60 and $3.80. Electric Chant, with Joe Johnson in the irons, came on with a late rush for third and returned $8.80.
Gaff scored his eighth victory in 22 lifetime starts with Thursday’s win. The 5-year-old son of Maria’s Mon most recently finished third behind Fabulous Strike and Cougar Cat in the $150,000 Aristides (Grade III) at Churchill Downs on June 2, and before that won the $150,000 Aegon Turf Sprint (GIII) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill. The Steve Asmussen trainee boosted his lifetime earnings to $547,513 with the $36,585 winner’s share of the purse.
The victory was Bridgmohan’s second straight of the day, having also won the seventh race aboard Tres Dream ($9).
Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008. The track’s 2007 Spring Meet is currently underway and concludes on July 8. Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record six times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.
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