Built Up rallies to win Groomstick

MIAMI - Built Up and Swift Replica, overmatched in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint Handicap in their previous starts, found the competition a lot more to their liking Saturday, finishing first and second in the $75,000 Groomstick Handicap at Calder.

Built Up, who finished fourth behind Shake You Down and Private Horde in the Smile, wore down Swift Replica in late stretch to post a neck victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Groomstick. Swift Replica, a tiring 10th after forcing a rapid pace in the Smile, led from the outset of the Groomstick but could not contain the winner in the closing strides. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Lavender's Lad, who rallied belatedly to finish third. Book of the Year, Love That Moon, Handsome Smile, and the slow-starting Chow Down completed the order of finish.

Built Up, a son of Homebuilder and Toned Up, had finished second behind Tour of the Cat in the 2002 Groomstick. Trained by Enrique Alonso for owner Raymond Susi, Built Up paid $3.40 as the heavy favorite in a field of seven older horses. Manny Aguilar rode the winner, who covered the distance in 1:17.40 over a fast track.

"He never wins by much," said Alonso. Aguilar, the trainer said, "did good to get him to the outside. He doesn't want to be inside, and he wants something to run at."