Sightseek dominates Rampart

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As much as Bobby Frankel thought his theory that Sightseek simply dislikes Santa Anita was accurate, he needed to see proof.

Proof is exactly what he saw Sunday at Gulfstream Park as Sightseek overpowered her three rivals and won the Grade 2, $200,000 by 7 1-2 lengths under stout restraint from Jerry Bailey. Redoubled Miss, whose trainer Ron Spatz didn't want to run in this race, finished second, two lengths ahead of Lead Story. Roar Emotion faded to fourth after setting the pace.

Sightseek is now 9 for 9 on dirt tracks not named Santa Anita. She is 0 for 5 at Santa Anita, including a dull fourth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff as the 3-5 favorite last October. She also finished fourth in the Grade 1 Santa Monica in January.

Frankel believes that Santa Anita is not as sandy as the eastern tracks and Sightseek doesn't handle it well. Still, Sightseek is 5 and there was some fear she just may be tailing off.

"She ran two bad races, you wondered," Frankel said. "But she was right there today under a hold. In California, she couldn't keep up.''

Bailey said he noticed a different Sightseek warming up before the race.

"She was real spunky warming up,'' Bailey said. "In California, at least in the Breeders' Cup, she was real dull. In her first race this year she was non-descript. Today, she was bucking going over there and kicking. Maybe she knew she left the state."

John Velazquez guided Roar Emotion from the rail to the three path coming out of the gate. Bailey, knowing he had plenty of horse, was content to stay to her outside. Sightseek was within a length of Roar Emotion through six furlongs in 1:11.81. Sightseek took over at the five-sixteenths pole and cruised to the wire under a hold. She ran nine furlongs in 1:51.07 and returned $3 as the favorite.

"I knew if my filly was right, it didn't matter what the other filly did," Bailey said. "If she wasn't right, it didn't matter either."

Frankel said Sightseek would be pointed to the $300,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup Handicap at Churchill Downs on April 30.