Ak Sar Ben Derby edges Higgins Boat in Hawthorne Derby

Ak Sar Ben Derby made his first start against winners a memorable one Sunday when he ran down Higgins Boat on the wire to win the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby by a head at Hawthorne Race Course.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to favorite Oscar Season.

Ak Sar Ben Derby ($20.40) came into the Hawthorne Derby off a maiden special weight win on Aug. 25. It came at the same 1 1/8-mile turf trip he traveled on Sunday.

Ak Sar Ben Derby broke well in the Hawthorne Derby and settled off the pace as Baxley set fractions of 23.24 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.21 for the half-mile and 1:12.72 for six furlongs while pushed along by T’Challa and Alotaluck.

Ak Sar Ben Derby, who had two horses beat at one point, rode the rail on the final turn while picking off rivals. He moved off the fence into the stretch, drove through an opening between horses, and ran down Higgins Boat, who had overtaken the leaders in the stretch. Ak Sar Ben Derby covered the distance on firm ground in 1:49.30.

Jockey Axel Concepcion was aboard for trainer John Ortiz.

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Following the race, it was announced there was a stewards’ inquiry looking at the run through the top of the stretch, but no change was made to the order of finish.

Ak Sar Ben Derby is a son of Tapiture who races for Millard Seldin Revocable Trust. He has now won 2 of 7 starts, and the first-place check of $90,000 on Sunday improved his career earnings to $154,789.

*** W W Hotshot ($3.20) won the River Bear Handicap.

*** Deal'em and Weep ($2.10), a 3-year-old filly, won a maiden special weight by 19 lengths.

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