Bordonaro best in Ancient Title

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bordonaro proved to be the fastest gun in the West on Saturday in the Grade 1, $220,000 , winning the six-furlong race by a length over a stubborn Thor's Echo in a swift 1:07.93 at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.

It will take considerably longer, however, for his connections to decide whether to go to the Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 4, because Bordonaro would have to be supplemented to the race by owners Fred Carrillo and Dan Cassella.

"That's the minus. Is it worth it?" trainer Bill Spawr said. "The other thing is that it's four weeks between races, and he usually likes six weeks. We'll just enjoy today and decide in the next two weeks."

On Saturday, Bordonaro ($2.80) broke sharply from the outside post in the field and six and set swift fractions of 21.52 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 43.88 seconds for a half-mile under jockey Patrick Valenzuela.

"He's amazing. He can go a half-mile in :43 and change and he can finish," Spawr said.

Jungle Prince was third, 5 3/4 lengths behind Thor's Echo. Pure as Gold, the second choice, was fourth.

Bordonaro avenged a controversial loss to Pure as Gold in the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar. He was inadvertently struck in the face with a whip during the stretch run of that race.

"This was muy importante. That's all the Spanish I know," Spawr said.

Bordonaro, 5, is a gelding by Memo. He was bred by Carrillo and Cassella in California. The Ancient Title was his ninth win in 12 starts, and his fifth in his last six starts.