Look who's back: Cetewayo takes Gulf BC
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Three and a half years after winning his first Grade 1 race, Cetewayo struck again on Saturday, parlaying a devastating run around the final bend into a convincing 3 1/4-length victory over 5-2 favorite Band Is Passing in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap*.
Cetewayo won Saratoga's Sword Dancer Handicap as a 4-year-old in 1998. He had made only 10 starts since, winning twice, until Saturday, when he proved he was back on top of his game by defeating 11 other long-distance turf specialists in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup.
Cetewayo raced near the rear of the pack while Band Is Passing, the 117-pound highweight, contested a fairly leisurely pace with Eltawaasul over a yielding turf course. Band Is Passing eventually edged clear leaving the backstretch, at which point Cetewayo began to rapidly pick up horses while hugging the hedge under jockey Cornelio Velasquez. Cetewayo eased out between horses to continue his rally in early stretch. He easily ran down Band Is Passing and drew off with authority through the final sixteenth.
Band Is Passing held well to finish second, three-quarters of a length before Profit Option, who rallied from last to be third.
Cetewayo paid $38.60 after covering 1 3/8 miles in 2:17.44 seconds.
"He's a marvelous horse, he gets all the credit," said Michael Dickinson who trains Cetewayo for owner-breeder Dr. John A. Chandler. "He's 8 years old and just wants to run. He has a great turn of speed for a long-distance horse - very few have his acceleration. He had one good race last year and then a couple of disappointing runs at the end of the season when he had a little trouble with his back. So we gave him some time off. I just got the horse right and then looked for a race. This was the only race for him."
Dickinson said he has no plans for Cetewayo at this time.
"Dr. Chandler maps out his campaign," said Dickinson. "I'll just wait to see what he decides will be next."
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