June 12, 2005
3-year-old sprint sensation Lost in the Fog won the 21st running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Riva Ridge Breeders' Cup Stakes at seven furlongs to remain undefeated in seven starts. He returned $2.80 for his 1 1/4-length victory. Lost in the Fog carried 123 pounds in the Riva Ridge, set a pressured pace of :22 1/5; :44 2/5 and 1:08 3/5, and, most importantly, withstood the late charge of Egg Head to win in 1:21 2/5.
Trainer Greg Gilchrist said that running Lost in the Fog on Belmont Stakes Day before a New York crowd and NBC's national television audience would expose him to the nation. This is the kind of exposure anyone would love, as Lost in the Fog met early challenges before establishing himself on the lead. "I think this was his toughest race," Gilchrist said. "I could tell by the way he came back that he was tired. You knew that when we drew the 2-hole, we were going to get challenged two or three times in this race. It takes a pretty good horse to fend off half the field when they are laying back waiting for you and taking turns at you. This horse could run the second quarter faster than the first, if you wanted him to. They softened him up a little bit, but believe me, their tongues were hanging out trying to catch him. I think he could do with all of the best (of the three-year-olds)."
The only thing that dimmed the victory glow was the fact that Lost in the Fog's regular rider, Russell Baze, had to take off the mount when he broke his collarbone earlier in the week during a fall. Edgar Prado replaced him. "As good a job as Edgar (Prado) did, I still wish Russell could have ridden this horse," said Gilchrist, whose charge returned $2.80 to win. "That is taking nothing away from Edgar, I thought he did a great job."
Manhattan Handicap
Brooklyn Handicap
Riva Ridge BC Stakes
Just a Game BC Stakes
True North BC Stakes
