Redattore wins Shoemaker

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The top turf miler in California is an 8-year-old Brazilian-bred who gets homesick when he leaves town but more than makes up for it with his local performances.

Monday, Redattore won his second consecutive major stakes on this circuit in the $415,000 at Hollywood Park. The victory came nearly three months after Redattore won the Grade 2 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.

In between, Redattore was shipped to Fair Grounds for the Explosive Bid Handicap in late March, but did not start after falling ill. Last August, Redattore was shipped to Emerald Downs for the Longacres Mile but did not start because of illness.

All of that was forgotten after the Shoemaker Mile in which Redattore had an ideal trip under jockey Alex Solis. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, after being 7-2 when the field entered the gate, Redattore stalked pacesetter Special Ring to early stretch, took the lead in the final turn and won by three-quarters of a length.

"It couldn't have been better," trainer Richard Mandella said. "He was as good as he could be. He's just been phenomenal this year."

Redattore never trailed by more than 2 1-2 lengths and finished a mile in 1:33.37.

Special Ring, who was making his first start since August, finished three lengths in front of Touch of the Blues, who was followed by Medecis, War Zone, Ladies Din, Century City, Nicobar, and Tijiyr.

Ladies Din was the defending champion of the Shoemaker. He was third early, but offered no challenge in the stretch.

"He just didn't fire," trainer Frank Monteleone said.

Redattore has won 13 of 27 starts and $1,442,315.

Mandella said that Redattore is not nominated to the Breeders' Cup program and is unlikely to be supplemented to the Breeders' Cup Mile, which will be run at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

"We'll find something to do," Mandella said.