Precisionist Wins Another on ‘Home’ Track

As they say on the backstretch, Precisionist doesn’t need to carry a race track around to win races. The 5-year-old chestnut has won 15 stakes at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Belmont Park and Aqueduct.

But if there’s one track that Precisionist comes closest to owning, it’s Santa Anita. And lest anybody had forgotten, Precisionist made another payment on the racing strip in Arcadia Monday, winning the $94,250 Yankee Valor Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths over Garthorn before a Columbus Day crowd of 38,947.

In what was probably the next-to-last start of a prosperous career, Precisionist stamped himself as the favorite for the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic that will be run at Santa Anita Nov. 1.

Running 1 1/8 miles--his best distance--in 1:48 2/5, favored Precisionist paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10. Garthorn, who finished two lengths ahead of Tasso, paid $2.80 and $2.20. Tasso, making only his second start since May, paid $2.20 to show.

The win for Precisionist was worth $60,500 and increased his career earnings to more than $2.7 million.