Bear finds winning path in Pan American

While most of the field in Saturday's $150,000

Pan

American S. (G3) was virtually lulled to sleep by the slow pace set by

Brother Nick (Malibu Moon), Lothenbach Stables' BEARPATH (Dynaformer) refused to

hibernate. Tracking in second the whole way as Brother Nick clipped off

fractions of :26, :52 3/5, 1:18 2/5, 1:45 and 2:09 3/5, Bearpath's proximity to

the leader allowed him to get the jump on his rivals, including 8-5 favorite

Never On Sunday (Fr) (Sunday Break [Jpn]), who valiantly tried to overcome the

tepid pace but fell three parts of a lengths short to the 19-1 longshot who

finished up 12 furlongs over the good Gulfstream Park turf in 2:32 3/5.

Bearpath returned $40.80, $15.60 and $9, while Never On Sunday paid $3.60 and

$3. Brother Nick, who was sent off at 11-1, hung tough until the final yards but

was only a neck behind the favorite at the finish. He gave back $7.20 after

finishing a length ahead of 8-5 second choice Winchester (Theatrical [Ire]). The

exotics were worth $177.20 (exacta), $1,521.60 (trifecta) and $6,106 (10-5-3-2

superfecta). After Winchester came Uncle Indy (A.P. Indy), Lemon Spice

(Langfuhr), Silver Mountain (Victory Gallop), Brass Hat (Prized) and Memorial

Maniac (Lear Fan). Expansion (Maria's Mon) and main-track-only entrant Gabriel's

Hill (A.P. Indy) were scratched.

Bearpath kicked off his career with eight straight losses, including two over

the Gulfstream turf last year, before earning a belated diploma at Ellis Park

going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass last August. Victorious in an allowance over

the same course and distance in his next start, the gelding went unplaced in his

next two before taking a second-level allowance over the Churchill turf at 1 1/2

miles in November. Rested three months, he raced evenly throughout the February

28 Mac Diarmida S. (G2), finishing just over five lengths behind Presious

Passion (Royal Anthem) in fifth. With this initial stakes score under Frederic

Lenclud, who has guided Bearpath to all his wins, the bay has now earned

$184,630 from a line of 15-4-1-3.

Bred in Kentucky by Whisper Hill Farm and trained by Ian Wilkes, Bearpath was

a $170,000 Keeneland September yearling. He was produced from the unraced Song

'N Silk (Unbridled's Song), a three-quarter sister to Grade 3 winner Unbridled

Hope (Unbridled) and a half-sister to the stakes-winning Forestier (Forestry)

and Grade 2-placed Silent Fred (Louis Quatorze). The gelding's fourth dam was

Grade 2 heroine Len's Determined (More the Merrier).