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Ak Sar Ben‍ Derby Triumphs in the 54th Hawthorne Derby
The Ak Sar Ben Derby surged ahead at the finish line to seize victory in the prestigious 54th edition of the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby held on Sunday. The competitive race featured a full roster of 12 contenders navigating a challenging 1 1/8-mile distance on a firm turf course, with Oscar Season positioned as the favorite at odds of 4-1 during only his second outing.
Early Strategy and Pacing
Baxley secured an advantageous position right from the starting gate, crossing over to claim an early lead as they raced by the grandstands for the first time. He set a spirited pace, reaching the quarter mark at an impressive clip of 23.34 seconds while T’Challa and Alotaluck stayed close behind him within a tightly packed group. By slowing things down slightly to complete half a mile in 48.21 seconds, Baxley maintained his dominance with Higgins Boat pressing forward alongside him, while all participants were still within seven lengths of each other.
Turning Point: Racing Dynamics Change
As they progressed through three-quarters of a mile clocking in at 1:12.72, jockeys began strategizing their movements for optimal positioning into the homestretch. With Higgins Boat poised just beside Baxley entering this crucial stage, Ak Sar Ben Derby, Tough Little Nut, and others sought openings for‌ advancement. As they entered deep into the stretch run, Higgins Boat briefly took command; however, Ak Sar Ben Derby and Tough Little Nut jostled for position amid traffic congestion before finding space to launch their final bids.
Dramatic Finish
Baxley’s pace faltered late in the race as Ak Sar Ben Derby unleashed his energy just in time to catch Higgins Boat near the wire before claiming victory by a narrow head margin with an official time of 1:49.30 seconds. Oscar Season showcased commendable resilience finishing third after rallying late while Telescopic made significant ground to clinch fourth place.
A Rewarding Victory
The triumphant horse is owned by Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust and expertly trained by John Ortiz – marking another notable achievement under their collaboration when he earned $90,000 from this prestigious contest Mogul Streaker was sent off at odds that favored him at 9-1 which contributed nicely when he returned payouts consisting of $20.40 for win bets along with place returns amounting respectively around $9.60 and show dividends totaling about $6.Single
Higgins Boat returned payouts worth approximately $8 alongside entrance ticket matches averaging about ($5) along’‘Oscar Season collected consolidated payoffs approximating ‘$4.’
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The post Ak Sar Ben Derby Triumphs at Hawthorne: A Stellar Victory for Trainer John Ortiz! first appeared on News Sports.
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Author : News-Sports
Publish date : 2024-10-07 15:24:09
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