Sharp Writer wins Walnut Creek Stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Sharp Writer ($6.60) rallied from last, pulling away late to win the $41,700 Walnut Creek Overnight Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.

Now Victory opened a 12-length lead through the opening six furlongs of the 1 3/8-mile turf race, running 1:10.52 and was still leading by 3 (three one-half) lengths after a mile as the field began to surge to the tiring leader.

Balustrade got first run and had the lead in the lane but was no match for Sharp Writer, who rallied three wide into the stretch. Sharp Writer defeated Azarouak by 2 (two one-half) lengths in 2:15.15 with Balustrade another two lengths back in third and Now Victory fourth another two lengths back.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said, "This is a horse George (Todaro, the owner with Hollendorfer and Howard Litt) has been very patient with. The horse is really coming around. I was surprised when he won the mile so easily last time. We always thought of him as a horse that would go 1 1/8 or 1 (one one-quarter) miles."

The 4-year-old colt that lost last year's Golden Gate Derby by a nose to Buzzards Bay, earned $22,500 for his first stakes victory and has now earned $130,370 with four wins in 17 starts.