Flash recap: Hap wins Baruch at perfect distance

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It's too bad for Hap that they'll be running the Breeders' Cup Mile this fall.

Now if it was the Breeders' Cup Mile and an Eighth, well, then Hap would be a mortal lock.

Hap stretched his perfect record at 1 1/8 miles on the turf to 7-for-7 by notching a 1 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on Friday at Saratoga Race Course.

Owned by Michael Paulson and Edward White and trained by Bill Mott, the 5-year-old Hap captured his third race in as many starts this year, all at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. In his previous starts, he took the New Hampshire Sweepstakes at Rockingham Park and the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico.

Royal Stand rallied strongly to be second, two lengths ahead of Dr. Kashnikow.

A son of Theatrical, Hap covered the nine furlongs in 1:47.06 on a turf course labeled good.

Hap ($3), a 1-2 favorite, won the Baruch last year, but then finished ninth in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile, a $1 million turf race.

"He won this race as easily as he did last year. It's a very good rade for him," said Mott, who said is considering running Hap next in the Arlington Million.

There is, of course, one potential flaw in that plan. The Million is run at 1 1/4 miles and not Hap's perfect distance - 1 1/8 miles.