Sir Gallovic holds off favorite

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Sir Gallovic withstood a furious stretch run by heavily favored True Metropolitan to win the $100,966 Grade 3 Premiers Handicap by a neck at Hastings on Sunday. True Metropolitan was very game in defeat, especially considering he was carrying 129 pounds going 1 3/8 miles.

With leading rider Mario Gutierrez aboard, Sir Gallovic ($5.40) saved ground while sitting just behind True Metropolitan and Newton John, who set honest fractions of 24.07 seconds, 47.22, 1:12.25, and 1:37.65. Sir Gallovic made a strong move to overtake True Metropolitan going down the backstretch and then took over the lead from Newton John on the stretch turn. He carried a one-length lead into the stretch and was all out to hold off True Metropolitan.

True Metropolitan, who was seemingly in a perfect position sitting just behind the pacesetter until Sir Gallovic flew by him, took a while to respond to the challenge. When he was asked to pick it up at the top of the stretch by his rider, Quincy Welch, True Metropolitan unleashed a powerful move to almost catch Sir Gallovic at the wire.

As well as carrying a heavy load, True Metropolitan lost a shoe during the race.

"I'm not sure when he lost his shoe," trainer Terry Jordan said. "He's a special horse to run as well as he did carrying that much weight."

Final time for the 1 3/8 miles was 2:15.89 over a fast track.