It took a head bob and a picture, but in the end it was Michael Bello, Jack
Mandato and Russell Sarno’s EASTERN SAND (Line in the Sand) who was able to pull out the
victory in Saturday’s $100,000
Silky Sullivan H. (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. The
chestnut three-year-old rated just off pacesetter Mr. Splash (Devil His Due), who led the
majority of the race through fractions of :24 2/5, :49 1/5, 1:14 4/5 and 1:37
before Eastern Sand dug in to get up in time for the score, completing nine
grassy furlongs in 1:49 under jockey Victor Espinoza.
Eastern Sand returned $3, $2.20 and $2.10 for the victory as the 1-2 favorite
while Mr. Splash gave back $3 and $2.10 for the place at 7-2 to end the $4
exacta ($1). Eager Pharisien (Pharisien [Fr])
crossed the wire two lengths behind that duo to pay $2.10 for third at 9-1 and
round out the 6-1-2 trifecta ($1) which paid $13. Aizarunner (Exploit), In
Excelsis (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Funny Flier (Michael’s Flyer) completed the
order of finish. Sharp Writer (Capote) was an early scratch from the race.
Bred in Florida by Farnsworth Farm, the Jeff Mullins-trained Eastern Sand is
out of the winning Jamie O Eight (Far Out East) and counts himself as a
full brother to an unnamed two-year-old filly as well as a half-sibling to an
unnamed yearling by Double Honor and a weanling filly by Robyn Dancer. This
victory increases the gelding’s record to 14-4-5-1 with $266,208 in earnings.
Eastern Sand found himself on the other end of the picture last out in the Oak
Tree Derby (G2), when he ran second in that one by a nose.