Bejarano caps big weekend as Edge to Edge takes Eclipse Stakes
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Jockey Rafael Bejarano capped a memorable weekend at Oaklawn Park on Sunday when he guided Edge to Edge to a length win over Gun Pilot in the $175,000 Eclipse.
The overnight stakes victory was the second feature race win of the week for Bejarano, who on Saturday guided Hush It Honey to victory in the $150,000 Rainbow Miss.
The Eclipse, which was run over six furlongs, was created to complement the festival of events Oaklawn has been conducting for the solar eclipse, for which the track will be hosting an infield watch party on Monday. There is no live card Monday.
Edge to Edge ($12.20) tracked Tapatio Leo in the Eclipse, sitting just off fractions of 21.88 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.35 for the half-mile. Edge to Edge took after the leader into the stretch, overtook him coming to the eighth pole, and continued on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:09.54.
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Bejarano was aboard Edge to Edge for trainer Chris Hartman.
“He wanted to go to the lead, but [Hartman] told me whatever you do, just keep a hold of him,” Bejarano told publicity at Oaklawn. “He likes to be in the bit and he had a little short turn of foot.
“I knew [Tapatio Leo] was the speed. He went to the lead really comfortably, so I just tried to follow him, tried to get him to relax. My horse, he’s getting into the bit, but I didn’t let him go until we came to the stretch. Turning for home, I waited a couple of jumps more and was flying at the end.”
Tapatio Leo finished third, 4 3/4 lengths behind Gun Pilot.
Edge to Edge is a son of Competitive Edge who races for Peggy Thompson. He has now won 7 of 32 starts for earnings of $578,735.
Oaklawn shifts back to a Friday-through-Sunday racing schedule next week after five weeks of racing on Thursday through Sunday.
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