Born in a Breeze rallies to win Spangled Jimmy

Born in a Breeze rallied to edge Double Bear and Trooper John, who dead-heated for second, by a half-length in the $50,000 Spangled Jimmy Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday. He paid $8.50 and posted a final time of 1:39.80 in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up.

Born in a Breeze looked comfortable sitting in fourth while Double Bear and Killin Me Smalls dueled through rapid interior fractions of 23.47 and 46.85 seconds. Jockey Wilmer Gaviz moved him into contention heading into the third turn, and he took over the lead on the turn. He held a half-length advantage over Double Bear at the top of the stretch and maintained that margin to the wire.

Despite dueling through taxing fractions, Double Bear held on well to finish on even terms with Trooper John. The 7-5 favorite, Trooper John stalked the pace, and after having to steady at the quarter pole, he regained his stride but couldn’t catch the winner.

Born in a Breeze is trained by Tom Rycroft, 78, who said it was his first stakes win at Northlands. Rycroft owns the 6-year-old son of Leonnatus Anteas with Dale Stark and Lewis Mailer.