Pomeroy takes King's Bishop

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Last year, trainer Patrick Biancone lost the King's Bishop with the favorite, Zavata, who finished eighth. Things went a whole lot better for Biancone in this year's Grade 1 , when he saddled the third choice, Pomeroy, to win at Saratoga on Saturday.

Pomeroy was a 1 1/2-length winner over Weigelia in the $250,000 King's Bishop. It was a length back to Ice Wynnd Fire in third and another 4 1/4 lengths back to Bwana Charlie in fourth. Saratoga County, Fire Slam, Medallist, and Hosco completed the order of finish.

Pomeroy, who was ridden by Edgar Prado, won the seven-furlong King's Bishop over a fast track in stakes-record time of 1:20.99, two-fifths of a second off the track record. Pomeroy returned $11.40.

Fire Slam, the second choice, stumbled badly at the start of the seven-furlong race and was never in the hunt. Medallist, the 8-5 favorite who broke from the rail, had to be ridden hard by jockey Jorge Chavez to gain the lead from the speedy Hosco down the backstretch. As the field approached the top of the stretch, Medallist, who had a narrow lead over Hosco and Weigelia, bore out, something he had done when winning the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct in May.

"I had to grab him, because I didn't want to dump anyone," Chavez said.

Pomeroy, who was racing with blinkers off and coming off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Amsterdam here earlier in the meet, relaxed in fourth position behind the early leaders. The winner made a bold move up the rail as Medallist bore out and gained the lead with a furlong remaining.

Prado, who had won three races earlier on the card, said, "The previous races Medallist has gotten out. He did it twice and I took a chance to stay inside, and luckily it worked out for me. He was very strong at the end."

Pomeroy, a son of Boundary, is owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

The King's Bishop was Pomeroy's second stakes victory. He won the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park in June.

- additional reporting by David Grening