Trainer Nick Zito sent out a pair of impressive three-year-old winners on
Saturday, capturing the $100,000 Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs with Robert
LaPenta’s ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) and the 10TH at
Gulfstream Park, an allowance, with Tracy Farmer’s SUN KING (Charismatic). The former overcame
adversity to score by 2 1/2 lengths under Rafael Bejarano, and Sun King easily
took his seasonal bow by 5 3/4 lengths with Edgar Prado.
Andromeda’s Hero, who broke from post 12 in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis, was
carried about six wide into the first turn before being bumped hard by another
rival and remained near the back of the pack on the backstretch through
fractions of :22 4/5, :46 4/5 and 1:12 1/5. He advanced through the far turn,
swung four wide into the stretch and rallied determinedly to catch Summer Legacy
(Charismatic) inside the final sixteenth of a mile before drawing off. The
chestnut colt earned his first stakes victory when stopping the teletimer in
1:46 3/5 over the fast track.
Summer Legacy held second by 6 1/2 lengths and was followed under the wire by
Captain Lindsay (Mecke), Mad Adam (Service Stripe), Coyoteshighestcall (Regal
Humor), Nicandro (Rizzi), Killenaule (Fusaichi Pegasus), Stormy Jim (High
Yield), G P’s Black Knight (Tiger Ridge), Get Down (Doneraile Court), Soused
(Slew Gin Fizz) and Oak Forest (Forestry). Hail to the Cat (Stormy Atlantic) was
scratched.
Andromeda’s Hero, who was favored at 9-5 with entrymate G P’s Black Knight,
improved his career mark to 4-2-0-2 with $65,270 in earnings. He’s out of the
winning Storm Bird mare Marozia.
Sun King broke his maiden in his second career start and then finished third
in the Champagne S. (G1) before wrapping up his juvenile campaign with a third
in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The dark bay colt proved much the best in
his return on Saturday, settling just off the early pace before offering his
move to the front on the far turn. He took charge in upper stretch and romped
home, finishing a mile over the fast track in 1:36 as the 4-5 favorite.
Survivalist (Danzig) finished second, 2 3/4 lengths better than recent maiden
winner Monarch Lane (Maria’s Mon).
Earlier on the Gulfstream card, Thorobeam Farm and Henry Mast’s FAVRE (Montbrook)
broke on top and led wire to wire for a one-length victory in the 7TH, a one-mile
allowance for three-year-olds. Trained by Ed Plesa Jr. and ridden by Jorge
Chavez, the chestnut colt held runner-up Holy Rocket (Holy Bull) in second most
of the way. Our Friend Timmy (Stephen Got Even) took third and the favored All
Trumps (Grand Slam) finished seventh.
Runner-up in both the Affirmed and Dr. Fager divisions of the Florida
Stallion S. series, Favre recorded his first stakes victory in his seasonal debut
here. He completed eight furlongs in 1:37 4/5.