Full Ransom regains good form in Kathryn Crosby

DEL MAR, Calif. – It has taken nearly two years to get Full Ransom back to the form she displayed early in her career, but she certainly appears to be on the way up now after winning for the second time in her last three starts when she rallied to upset the $82,900 Kathryn Crosby Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old Full Ransom won the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes in only the third start of her career in November 2013, but injured a hock early in her 3-year-old year and completely lost her form. Even after a lengthy vacation, it took her a while to come around this year, but she looked as good as ever on Saturday in the Crosby, a restricted grass stakes for older females.

After getting shuffled back down the backstretch, Full Ransom ($36.60), the longest shot in the seven-horse field, closed with a rush and outfinished favored Chaulk O Lattey by 1 1/4 lengths. Beat of the Drum was another half-length back in third, followed by Three Hearts, Nashoba’s Gold, Sweet as a Rose, and Energia Fribby.

Cast in Silver was scratched earlier in the day.

Full Ransom completed 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.72 and was recording her fourth win in 15 starts. Jim Cassidy trains Full Ransom for Deron Pearson’s DP Racing.

“She messed a hock up,” Cassidy said -- using a more colorful word than “messed” – “and she kept breaking last, breaking last. She couldn’t push off. Finally we just stopped.”

After being away for eight months, Full Ransom lost her first five starts of this year before beating a second-level allowance field at Del Mar in August. She ran poorly from an outside post in the Swingtime at Santa Anita last time out on Oct. 3, but was reunited on Saturday with jockey Santiago Gonzalez, who has been aboard for Full Ransom’s two victories this year.

“He doesn’t speak any English, and I don’t speak any Spanish, so we get along great,” Cassidy said.