Ramazutti shows new dimension

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Ramazutti, whose best previous races have all been on the lead, showed a new dimension on Sunday when rallying from off the pace to a 1 1/4 length victory over Dreadnaught in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida(G2) Handicap.

Ramazutti was rated off the early pace of Mending Fences and Gin And Sin by jockey John Velazquez. A 5-year-old son of Honor Grades who had been winless since November of 2005, Ramazutti engaged for the lead entering the stretch, forged clear nearing the sixteenth pole then withstood the final bid from the hard luck Dreadnaught.

Dreadnaught, beaten a neck in each of his last two starts including the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes here on Jan. 6, rallied four wide into the stretch and finished willingly to just fall short for the third straight time. Interpatation rallied from last to finish third.

Bee Charmer, the surprising 7-2 post time favorite despite making his U.S. stakes debut, raced forwardly to the final turn before fading badly and finishing last in the field of 11 older grass specialists.

Ramazutti ran a mile and three eighths over a firm course in 2:11.86 seconds and paid $20.60.

We talked about taking him back if the five(Mending Fences) went to the lead to try to give him a chance to learn something, said trainer Anthony Sciametta Jr. And when the twelve(Gin and Sin) also showed speed he got the perfect trip behind the dueling leaders. . Of course with him it was still a matter of seeing if he could do it from off the pace and fortunately he pulled it off which was something we really needed to see from him.