Unspoken Word holds on in Hillsborough

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Unspoken Word took over on the backstretch and gamely held on to the lead, repelling the late charge of Wild Promises to win the $61,070 Hillsborough Handicap by a head at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

"I didn't figure Anamanor to go early when she bolted to the lead," winning jockey Russell Baze said. "It worked out all right because my filly relaxed behind her on the turn. Down the backstretch she just dragged me to the lead, but once she got in front, she relaxed again.

"Inside the eighth pole, she was running on fumes, but she dug in tough. That filly she beat is hard to hold off."

Unspoken Word cut out fast fractions in the one-mile turf race, going a half-mile in 46.25 seconds and 1:09.65 for six furlongs. She won in 1:35.24 with stablemate Andover the Cash another 7 1/2 lengths back.

Chad Schvaneveldt, who rode favored Wild Promises, said, "As fast as they were going, I thought they'd slow down. I wanted to wait a little longer, but I didn't want to let them get away. My filly was coming late, but she was just inching up."

Unspoken Word, a 4-year-old filly by Catienus, was a private purchase in New York by Rancho San Miguel and Twin Creeks Farm. The victory was her first in a stakes for her new owners. She earned $34,300 to increase her career earnings to $149,815 with her fourth victory in 13 starts.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he had no plans for the filly, but she might run next in Southern California.