Victory Gallop Dusts ‘Charm in the Foster

What was to be a showdown between Victory Gallop and Silver Charm in the $827,250 Stephen Foster Handicap on Saturday at Churchill Downs was instead a blowout.

Second in the 1998 Kentucky Derby and fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Victory Gallop not only won for the first time in Louisville, but shattered the track record in the process.

Rallying from last place with a strong move around the turn under jockey Jerry Bailey, the 4-year-old son of Cryptoclearance won by five lengths and completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 1/5, easily breaking the mark of 1:48 2/5 set by Las Olas on Nov. 21, 1958, and equaled three years later by Aeroflint.

Nite Dreamer was second, Littlebitlively third and Silver Charm, who clearly isn’t the horse he used to be, struggled home fourth, beaten by slightly more than eight lengths.

Silver Charm, the 7-5 second choice, has lost four in a row for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer Bob Baffert.

*

Running Stag toyed with his seven rivals in the $350,000 Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park.

Trained by Phillip Mitchell for owner Richard Cohen and ridden by Shane Sellers, the 5-year-old son of Cozzene circled the field widest of all around the turn, then drew off to win by a little more than seven lengths in 1:46 1/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

This was the fourth victory in 28 starts for Running Stag, who was the 7-2 third choice Saturday, but he is far better on dirt than he is on turf. He has won three of 10 on the main track.

Mitchell said Running Stag will return to England, but could return to North America for possible appearances in the Woodbine Mile and Canadian International in the fall.

“It was an awesome performance,” Sellers said of Running Stag, who finished second by half a length to Behrens in the Massachusetts Handicap two weeks ago. “He’s so versatile in that he can set the pace or come from off of it.”

Deputy Diamond, who had won five of his six previous starts at Belmont, was second, a little more than two lengths ahead of Metropolitan Handicap winner and 17-10 favorite Sir Bear.

*

Brave Act is the 3-1 favorite in the $350,000 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile today at Hollywood Park.

Trained by Ron McAnally for owner Sid Craig, the son of Persian Bold was dominant in winning the Inglewood Handicap last month, his third victory in four races on the Hollywood Park turf course.

Brave Act, who will be ridden by Goncalino Almeida, and Poteen are the only horses in the field coming off a victory, but many of the others aren’t lacking credentials.

Ladies Din, who will race coupled with Silic, Hawksley Hill and Lord Smith are multiple stakes winners and Chullo won five of six on the turf in South America, including four Group I races. Completing the field, after the late scratch of Indian Rocket on Saturday, is Fabulous Guy.

*

Chichim, who could have been claimed for $20,000 in February, became a stakes winner Saturday, scoring a 7-1 surprise in the $100,000 Valkyr Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Owned and bred by Marianne Millard and Bea Rous and trained by Juan Garcia, the 4-year-old Chimineas filly rallied from far back and won going away, beating 3-1 second choice Iza Bon Bon by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:02 for the 5 1/2 furlongs on grass.

Censored, the 13-10 favorite who was making her third start in 28 days for Baffert, finished seventh in the field of nine California-bred fillies and mares.

Horse Racing Notes

Hollywood Park’s $1-million guaranteed Pick Six will be conducted on races five through 10 today. . . . Jockey Garrett Gomez had three winners Saturday. Besides Chichim, he also won the fifth with Dressing Gown and the eighth with Hide The Silver.