Popular Kid, 7, notches first stakes win with Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial
Popular Kid became a stakes winner at the age of 7 on Friday night when he held off a stretch bid from Catdaddy for a length victory in the $100,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial at Remington Park.
It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Absaroka.
The Hawk Memorial was for 3-year-olds and up over one mile, 70 yards. Trident Hit was the odds-on favorite and closed for fourth Friday.
Popular Kid ($8.80) tracked the pace set by Absaroka, who put up fractions of 24.75 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.58 for the half-mile. Popular Kid moved to the lead through six furlongs in 1:13.19 and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:43.55.
Jose Alvarez was aboard the winner for trainer Shawn Davis.
“We hoped he’d run that way,” Davis said on the simulcast from Remington. “The horse is a 7-year-old and he’s getting better all the time. He’s a happy horse.”
Popular Kid won the local allowance prep for the Hawk Memorial on Oct. 27. Owner George Sharp said on the simulcast from Remington that Popular Kid was headed next to Sam Houston, which opens in January.
“This horse is all pro,” Sharp said. “He has no quit in him. He likes to win races.”
Popular Kid is a son of Popular who has now won 15 of 62 starts for earnings of $598,774.