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 Passing Shot the winner of the Personal Ensign Handicap with Jose Santos up. |
Dateline: 08/22/2003
Allen "The Chief" Jerkens, the Hall of Fame trainer known as "The Giant
Killer" for his history of upsetting favorites throughout history, made 1-9
favorite Wild Spirit his latest victim Friday afternoon. Under a deft ride by
jockey Jose Santos, the four-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy rallied late to
nip Wild Spirit by a nose and win the 56th running of the Grade 1, $400,000
Personal Ensign for fillies and mares at 10 furlongs. It was the third
straight victory and first graded stakes win for Passing Shot, who returned
$24.60 to win.
It was a strong showing for the filly, who sat off a
deliberate pace of :24 4/5; :49 3/5; and 1:14 1/5 by Miss Linda and jockey
Richard Migliore. As the leader swung for home, room opened on the rail for
Wild Spirit, and Bailey drove her to what seemed to be another Grade 1 win
for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. But things were about to get worse
for Frankel. Sweeping around on the
outside and with Santos keeping her attention with a right-hand whip,
switched to his left, and back to his right as Passing Shot surged on the
winner and got her shadow roll clearly in front of her rival at the wire in
2:03 1/5. Miss Linda held for third while Summer
Colony, last year's Personal Ensign 'Cap winner, and Golden Sonata trailed.
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Purse: $400,000 Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Passing Shot Santos 24.60 2.90 2.10 1 Wild Spirit Bailey 2.10 2.10 5 Miss Linda Migliore 2.10
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The whole field first time by the stands with Miss Linda setting easy fractions.
Trainer Allen Jerkens, the "Giant Killer" had this to say about his nickname: "It's fun. A lot of people have fun with it.
A lot of people are Giant Killers. A lot of favorites have gotten beat, no
matter who trains the other horse. You can say the same things for "Sunny Jim"
Fitzsimmons or Max Hirsch. There were so few horses in here, it's always nice
to run in a small field with a big purse. If you get the other horses on their
poor day and you're on your good day, you'll win. But you can't catch 10
horses on a poor day."
Passing Shot in the paddock before the race. Winning jockey Jose Santos said, "I had a great trip. I was worried when I saw
Bailey's horse (Wild Spirit) get through on the inside; she was a heavy
favorite. I hit my filly right-handed and then left and then right and she
found another gear. It was a great effort from her. I love riding for 'The
Giant Killer,' especially in stakes races. You've always got a chance to
knock off the favorite."
Second place finisher and heavy 0.20-1 favorite Wild Spirit in the paddock prior to the race. Bobby Frankel didn't have anything to say about the race but jockey Jerry Bailey said, "I had the best trip of anyone, but my
horse also carried a lot more weight than anyone (122 pounds)."
Third place finisher Miss Linda getting saddled. She lead through a mile in relatively soft fractions but just wasn't good enough for the top two.
Photos ©2003 Cindy Pierson Dulay, licensed to About.
