Whittingham Horse in Dead Heat for First in Golden Gate Handicap

Val Danseur and Le Solaret finished in a dead heat for first in the $290,750 Golden Gate Handicap at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.

Val Danseur is trained by Charlie Whittingham, who had himself quite a weekend. On Saturday, he won the Kentucky Derby with Ferdinand, and on Sunday, besides sharing a victory here, he had a winner with Palace Music in the $159,200 John Henry Handicap at Hollywood Park. Bill Shoemaker, who rode Ferndindand Saturday, rode Palace Music for Whittingham Sunday.

Val Danseur, carrying 117 pounds, and Le Solaret, carrying 113 pounds and owned by entertainers Burt Bacharach and Neil Diamond, exchanged leads on every head bob in the final 30 yards before a final desperate lunge by Le Solaret produced the dead heat. They covered the 1 3/8-mile turf course in 2:16 2/5.

French-bred Le Solaret earned $113,875, including a Breeders’ Cup bonus, for his first win in the United States. Val Danseur got $100,375.

Complice II finished third.

Val Danseur paid $3.00, $2.80 and $2.10; Le Solaret returned $6.40, $5.20 and $2.40, and Complice II paid $2.20 to show.