Atlantic City: Perfect Officer nails Blue Sailor just before wire in Dream Big

Newly acquired Perfect Officer foiled trainer Howie Wolfendale’s bid to win the closing-day feature at Atlantic City Race Course for the fourth straight time when he ran down defending champion Blue Sailor in deep stretch to take the $52,450 Tony Gatto Dream Big Stakes by a neck Tuesday.

Maryland-based trainer Mike Pino had claimed the 5-year-old Perfect Officer ($9.20) on behalf of David Ross out of a winning effort in a $50,000 claiming sprint at Gulfstream Park on March 6. Kendrick Carmouche saved ground on Perfect Officer until the stretch, when he steered the gelding to the outside and erased a one-length deficit in the final furlong to wear down pacesetter Blue Sailor. The winning time for five furlongs on firm turf was 55.73 seconds.

Blue Sailor, ridden for the first time by Forest Boyce, was 2 1/4 lengths clear of Ju Jitsu Jax, who got up for third by a head over Super Chunky, the slight favorite at 3-1.

The millionaire Heros Reward finished fifth in a field of nine.