'Sandy' finishes 2nd, but sets record

ELMONT, N.Y. - A tough trip denied Say Florida Sandy a win in Sunday's $125,000 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park on the New York Showcase Fall Festival card, but he was still able to make history by finishing second.

Say Florida Sandy became the all-time leading New York-bred money earner with his second-place finish behind Impeachthepro in the Hudson. Sandy, who now has $1,750,926 in earnings from 77 trips to the starting gate, surpassed L'Carriere, who had held the top spot.

Under jockey Aaron Gryder, Say Florida Sandy, the 4-5 favorite, lacked racing room in the stretch of the six-furlong Hudson, but was running eagerly as the wire approached and finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Impeachthepro. Well Fancied was third, a neck behind Say Florida Sandy.

Gryder was candid about the trip Say Florida Sandy received in the restricted Hudson.

"He broke the record today; I broke a lot of people," Gryder said. "The weight (127 pounds) didn't get him beat, but we had a horrible trip. He got out-sprinted to a hole, and that may have cost him the race. He still finished up with a pretty game run. With a better trip, he's the best horse."

It was the fourth loss in the Hudson for Say Florida Sandy, who trainer Juan Serey said would run back in Saturday's $100,000 Sport Page, on the Breeders' Cup undercard.

Impeachthepro, under Finger Lakes rider John Grabowski, had the perfect trip. The third choice in the field of 11 males, Impeachthepro was never far off the pace and got the jump on Sandy, which Grabowski said was key to the victory.

"We had a super trip," Grabowski said. "[Say Florida Sandy] and my horse have the same kind of style and I wanted to keep [Sandy] in check. Luckily, we got a jump on him."

Impeachthepro, a 4-year-old gelding, is owned by Nicholas Laneve and William Warner and trained by Mike Ferraro, who will saddle Shesastonecoldfox in Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The final time for the Hudson was 1:10.28 over a fast track. The winner returned $12.40.

Ransom's Pride captures Ticonderoga

Ransom's Pride proved her win in her turf debut at Saratoga in the Yaddo was no fluke by coming back to capture Sunday's $150,000 Ticonderoga Handicap.

Ransom's Pride, with Jorge Chavez in the saddle, tracked the pacesetter, Tiger Babe, in the 1 1/8-mile Ticonderoga on the turf. Ransom's Pride, the favorite in the 12-horse field of fillies and mares, took over the lead early in the stretch and was able to hold off the late charge of Eventail to win by a head.

It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Spectaculaireontap in third.

Ransom's Pride ($8.40) covered the distance in 1:48.08 over a firm course.

Mike Hernandez trains Ransom's Pride, a 3-year-old, for Chester and Mary Broman, who bred the Red Ransom filly.

"She's very game," Chester Broman said. "It's always nice to own stakes winners, but it's even better when you breed them."