Laurel: Jimanator scores again in Campbell

Jimanator continued to prove himself a terrific claim for trainer Michael Trombetta and Three Diamonds Farm, re-rallying in the stretch after being passed by favored Heart Butte and drawing clear to win Saturday's $91,500 John B. Campbell Stakes by four lengths at Laurel Park.

Claimed for $20,000 last August at Saratoga, Jimanator has now gone 3-1-2 in 6 starts for his new connections, banking more than $174,000. Three starts back, Jimanator won the Grade 3 Fred Hooper Handicap at Calder. In his last two starts, he was third to Heart Butte in the Auld Lang Syne at Parx and third - just in front of Heart Butte - in the Evening Attire at Aqueduct.

In the Campbell, with likely pacesetter Houston Bull scratched, Jimanator assumed the role as the front-runner. Under Junior Alvarado, Jimanator got away with an easy opening quarter of 25.27 seconds while maintaining more than a length advantage on Heart Butte.

Heart Butte, under Ramon Dominguez, got a little closer prompting Jimanator through a half-mile in 49.61. Dominguez sent Heart Butte in front after six furlongs in 1:13.04 and appeared to gain nearly a length lead passing the quarter pole.

But Alvarado had plenty of horse left, and Jimanator regained the lead in midstretch and bounded clear for the victory.

"My horse broke really good. I tried to go to the lead and make it easy. I had a little pressure from the half-mile pole, but my horse never gave up," Alvarado said.
Jimanator covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.95 and returned $8.60 as the second choice.

"He doesn't let us down too often," Trombetta said. "We were giving a lot of weight last time and it took its toll, but a little more fair swing in the weights this go-round, and he got it taken care of."