Aegon Turf Sprint: Lydgate gets up

Lydgate, who was still eligible for first-level allowance conditions, made a torrid stretch run to pass Mighty Beau in winning the $114,700 Aegon Turf Sprint under Pat Day.

Mighty Beau, the 3-1 favorite in a field of 11 older horses, had drawn clear after turning for home in the five-furlong turf race but was unable to hold off the outside bid of Lydgate, who edged clear to win by a length. Lydgate returned $17.40 after finishing in 56.56 seconds over a course rated good.

Banned in Boston finished third, a half-length behind Mighty Beau and another 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Cat Singer.

Eoin Harty, the former longtime assistant to Bob Baffert, is the trainer of Lydgate, a Kentucky-bred 4-year-old by Pulpit. "We always thought he had this kind of ability," said Harty.

Bred by Kennelot Stables and owned by Darley Stud, Lydgate had been favored in three of his last four starts, all at Santa Anita and all for one-other-than conditions, but he came up short every time. He now has won twice in 10 starts.