Proud Azteca draws clear in English Channel

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Proud Azteca, who had never crossed the finish line first in five previous starts, finally got to the wire on top and did so with style Saturday at Gulfstream Park, rallying to a 2 1/4-length victory over 2-1 favorite Little Daddy in the $75,000 English Channel Stakes. Charlie the Boss was third.

Proud Azteca, a 3-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy trained by Mike Maker, earned his only previous victory in his career debut when placed first via disqualification against $35,000 maiden claimers here on Jan. 5. Proud Azteca had not raced since finishing ninth against first-level allowance competition at Keeneland on April 24.

With jockey Abdiel Jaen putting up a picture-perfect ride, Proud Azteca ($9) rated near the rear of the pack for five furlongs, advanced along the inside on the second bend, split rivals continuing his bid in early stretch, and finished best of all to win going away. Little Daddy, well placed, rallied wide into the stretch and surged late to overtake Charlie the Boss to be second. The winning time for 1 1/16 miles over good turf was 1:43.63.

Dekabrist remained undefeated and had to survive a claim of foul lodged by his own stablemate to do so in the $50,000 Kodiak Island, the first stakes for 2-year-old s of the local season.

Dekabrist, who won his only previous start by 15 lengths, ducked out into the stretch, impeding Kulak before wearing down the pacesetting I’m Venezuelan to win by a length. Dekabrist, Kulak, and fourth place finisher Bagration are all owned by the Raut LLC, but raced as separate betting interests in the five-furlong Kodiak Island, which had just four starters after Wicked Rascal and It’s Free were scratched following an incident at the starting gate.

Dekabrist, who like Kulak and Bagration is trained by Gennadi Dorochenko, returned $2.40 after running 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.64.