Del Mar Show ekes out Baruch victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Once again, the Bernard Baruch belonged to Bill Mott and Jerry Bailey.

After stalking the pace for seven furlongs, Del Mar Show engaged the front-running Volponi turning for home and persevered to a neck victory over that rival in Friday's $150,000, Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap before 17,598 at Saratoga. It was a nose back to 2-1 favorite Forbidden Apple.

It was the fourth time in the last five years that Mott and Bailey teamed up to win this race. They won it in 1998 with Yagli and in 2000-01 with Hap. In 1999, the Mott-trained, Bailey-ridden Tangazi was beaten a neck by Middlesex Drive. All five horses ran in the red, white, and blue silks of Allen Paulson.

The Bernard Baruch lacked speed, so Shaun Bridgmohan and trainer Phil Johnson decided to go for the lead with Volponi breaking from the hedge. Volponi secured the front after an opening quarter in 23.87 seconds, but was soon latched on by Del Mar Show through splits of 48.92 seconds, 1:12.80, and 1:36.52. Del Mar Show took the lead in upper stretch and was able to hold off a resurgent Volponi near the wire.

Del Mar Show, a 5-year-old son of Theatrical, covered the 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:48.51 and returned $9.30 as the third choice.

"This horse is just in good form right now," said Mott, who joined John Russell as the only trainers to win three consecutive Bernard Baruchs. "We beat some nice horses today. Forbidden Apple is a very talented horse."

Jose Santos said he was going to take Forbidden Apple to the front, but decided to take back when Volponi went for the lead. Santos had a stranglehold of Forbidden Apple for most of the race, but the horse did not punch like he usually does in the stretch.

"He had a little bit of difficulty switching leads today. He never did," Santos said. "But he was coming strong at the end. This track is very small for him."