Anegada rides the rail to Hawthorne Derby triumph
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Anegada rushed up the rail to win the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby by a half-length over Maui Strong on Sunday.
It was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third to Buttons and Lace.
The Hawthorne Derby was a 1 1/8-mile turf race and shared a card with the $75,000 River Bear, won by Fast Jack ($8.60).
Anegada ($5.60) had two horses beat early Sunday as Perry County set a quick pace while pushed along by Sushi Man. The two dashed through an opening quarter in 22.84 seconds, a half-mile in 46.56 and six furlongs in 1:10.89.
Anegada moved up down the backside, advanced three wide on the final turn, dropped down to the rail in the lane and quickened to get past Maui Strong. The winner covered the distance on firm turf in 1:48.71.
Luis Colon, who was aboard Anegada for trainer Mike Maker, said in an interview broadcast by Hawthorne that Anegada gave him the kick he needed when the horse was asked. Anageda was winning his first stakes in the Hawthorne Derby.
Anegada is a son of Midshipman. He has now won 2 of 11 starts, and the first-place check Sunday pushed his earnings to $231,009.
Fast Jack led a Scott Becker-trained trifecta in the River Bear when he won over runner W W Hotshot and fast-closing third-place finisher Wildwood Sicilian.
Fast Jack covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.02. Orlando Mojica was aboard the winner for Charles Ritter and co-owner Becker. Fast Jack is a son of Ghaaleb.
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