Giant Oak tough as hickory in Donn

Giant Oak earned his second straight top-level win in the Donn (Joe Ganley/EquiSport Photos) The Virginia Tarra Trust’s homebred GIANT OAK (Giant’s Causeway) was elevated to first via disqualification in the Clark H. (G1) in November, but prevailed on his own account for the first time since the Arlington Classic in May 2009 when springing a 7-1 upset of the $500,000 Donn H. (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Aided in part by a strong pace that negatively effected three of the top four betting interests, Giant Oak had the freshest legs of those still in the hunt turning for home in the nine-furlong event. Seventh early while Square Eddie (Smart Strike) and Morning Line (Tiznow) dueled threw splits of :23 1/5, :46 3/5 and 1:10 2/5, Giant Oak bided his time while I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even) and Rule (Roman Ruler) raced in close attendance to the top pair and thus also bore the brunt of the taxing splits. Approaching the quarter pole, I Want Revenge and Rule ranged up three- and four-wide, respectively, to join the leaders. While Square Eddie soon backed out of contention thereafter, Morning Line held tough along the rail. A three-way ding-dong battle soon developed between Morning Line, I Want Revenge and Rule, though all three had difficulty gaining an advantage over the other two and were all noticeably leg-weary.

Giant Oak, with plenty of gas in the tank, masterfully exploited the
situation with a strong rally out in the middle of the track. Securing
the lead inside the furlong marker, the five-year-old drew away to win
by two lengths in a time of 1:48 1/5 over the fast track. The 7-1 fifth
choice in a field of nine, Giant Oak returned $16.80, $7.20 and $4.20.

“I had a good feeling going into the race,” winning trainer Chris Block said.
“I’ve never seen him get up into the bridle the way he did today.

Morning Line, arguably running the best race of anyone in the field given his
presence on the pace, fought back to edge Rule for second by a nose as the 3-1
second choice. Rule, who also started at 3-1, had a half-length on I Want
Revenge, who tired late at odds of 5-1. It was more than three lengths back to
5-2 favorite Fly Down (Mineshaft), who was never a factor. The order of finish
was rounded out by Ron the Greek (Full Mandate), Hear Ye Hear Ye (Hear No Evil),
Eldaafer (A.P. Indy) and Square Eddie.

Aside from previous scores in the Clark and Arlington Classic, Giant
Oak has placed in eight other stakes, seven of them graded. He earned
minor shares in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) in 2008, the Illinois
Derby (G2) and Indiana Derby (G2) in 2009, and Mineshaft H. (G3), Ben
Ali S. (G3), Washington Park H. (G3) and Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) in
2010. His record now stands at 24-5-3, $1,256,677.

“He’s a Giant’s Causeway and I think he’s just gotten better with age and
maturation as that line seems to do. He trained very well over the track and
seemed to like the change of scenery,” said Block referring to the fact Giant
Oak wintered last season at Fair Grounds.

Block said next month’s Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) would be taken under
consideration.

Bred in Illinois, Giant Oak is out of the Grade 3-winning Crafty Oak
(Crafty Prospector), who is also the dam of multiple stakes victress
Apple Martini and the stakes-placed Cause She’s Crafty, both
full sisters to Giant Oak. Crafty Oak has also raised the juvenile filly Market Buzz (After
Market) and a yearling colt by Bluegrass Cat. This extended family is
responsible for Grade 1 winner Without Feathers (Brave Shot) and Grade 3
scorer Treekster (Badger Land).

Giant Oak’s fourth dam was Rampart (Trace Call), who beat the boys in
the 1948 Gulfstream Park H. and is honored today with a nine-furlong,
Grade 3 event for fillies and mares at Gulfstream that will be renewed
on April 2.