Cross Border catches Tawny Port for Cape Henlopen triumph

Talk about the road less traveled by.

When millionaire Cross Border made his 9-year-old debut on March 25, it was over the hurdles at Aiken. He won that race in gate-to-wire fashion by 4 3/4 lengths, then finished fourth in a $25,000 handicap over the jumps at Charlotte.

It was seemingly a far cry from his salad days.

Between 2020 and 2022, Cross Border won the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga twice, finished second and third in back-to-back editions of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, and placed third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf.

Rumors of Cross Border’s demise on the flat were greatly exaggerated, however, as he rallied from off the pace to collar favored Tawny Port in Saturday’s $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward traveling 1 1/2 miles over firm turf at Delaware Park.
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Cross Border broke a bit slowly in the Cape Henlopen, but jockey Ruben Silvera had plenty of time to recover. Silvera found the inside near the back of the field entering the first of three turns, and let things develop in front of him with Tawny Port leading the way under Trevor McCarthy.

Cross Border raced keenly while behind horses passing the stands the first time, but Tawny Port soon quickened on the lead, and that seemed to settle Cross Border into a more natural rhythm.

It looked as if McCarthy tried to steal away to an insurmountable advantage early on the backstretch as he scrubbed on the chalk to keep extending, but the rest of the field wouldn’t let Tawny Port shake completely clear.

Tawny Port was under a hard drive at the quarter pole, turned into the stretch still in front, but had no answer when Cross Border rallied down the center of the track. At the wire, it was Cross Border by 2 1/2 lengths over Tawny Port with Tough Tickets another 3 1/4 lengths back in third. Then came Commandeer, Beacon Hill, Urban Myth, Praline’s Cat and Tee At One.

Serifos and Sports Editor scratched. Cross Border completed the distance in 2:33.31 and returned $18 to win as the fourth choice in the wagering.

Trained by Michael Maker, Cross Border returned from his steeplechase experiment to finish last of 13 in the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup on June 9. Dropped in for the $62,500 claiming option at Saratoga on Aug. 26, Cross Border finished third, beaten a half-length for the win.

A New York-bred by English Channel, Cross Border was bred by Berkshire Stud and B D Gibbs. After beginning his career in Canada, he was purchased by Three Diamonds Farm for $100,000 during the summer of 2018.

With his 13th win from 52 starts, Cross Border’s lifetime earnings increased to $1,333,258. He has won five stakes races.

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