Easter edges Hong Kong Harry in Seabiscuit Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. - The final strides of Saturday’s Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar became a playoff race between trainer Phil D’Amato’s starters.

Hong Kong Harry, the 11-10 favorite, appeared to have a commanding lead in the turf race at 1 1/16 miles until second choice Easter ($5.40) closed with an impressive rally to take a late lead.

Easter won by a half-length, and was timed in 1:39.96. Easter earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99, which equals his career best.

Hong Kong Harry held second, finishing a half-length in front of 10-1 Balnikhov, giving D’Amato-trained runners a sweep of the trifecta in the $201,500 race.

The 50-cent combination of Easter, Hong Kong Harry and Balnikhov paid just $9.60.

“It’s nice to see all three of my horses run well and the best horse won today,” D’Amato said in the winner’s circle. “Maybe it’s Harry next time and maybe it’s Balnikhov after that.”

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Easter, ridden by Antonio Fresu, closed from sixth of eight to reach contention in the stretch. Fresu said he tracked jockey Juan Hernandez on Hong Kong Harry, knowing that rival was the principal runner in the field. Easter rallied between horses to catch Hong Kong Harry.

“I went through the opening and he was much the best today,” Fresu said of Easter.

Easter was in sixth and then fifth on the backstretch, racing on the inside and well behind pacesetter Sumter, who led by as many as three lengths. Sumter set a solid pace of 23.10 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.61 for a half-mile.

Sumter led on the turn and into the stretch before he was caught by Hong Kong Harry. By then, Easter was traveling well after giving Fresu concern in the opening half of the race.

“He was pretty keen and I was trying to relax him all the way and get him in a nice rhythm,” Fresu said.

Easter had his first start for D’Amato in the Seabiscuit. A 5-year-old French-bred gelding by Exosphere, Easter won his second consecutive stakes in the Seabiscuit. At Santa Anita on Oct. 28, Easter closed with a rush under jockey Frankie Dettori to record a half-length win in the restricted Lure Stakes.

Fresu said he watched Dettori’s ride as part of his pre-race scouting.

“I tried to ride him in the same way,” Fresu said.

Easter joined D’Amato’s stable after the Lure. The preparation for the Seabiscuit was not without minor drama. Easter refused to work on the Del Mar turf course on Nov. 12, but worked on the dirt a few days later without incident.

Owned by Madaket Stable, Easter is expected to be part of a loaded team of turf stakes runners for D’Amato at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting that begins on Dec. 26.

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