Cagney Breaks New Ground in Winning the Burke Handicap

A group winner twice in his native Brazil, Cagney won his first graded stakes in this country Sunday at Santa Anita.

The 5-2 second choice in the $150,000 Carleton F. Burke Handicap, Cagney got a perfect ride from jockey Mike Smith and overpowered Kerrygold late to win the Grade III race.

Trained by Richard Mandella for owner Gonzalo Borges Torrealba’s Stud T N T, the 4-year-old Roy colt won for the fifth time in 11 starts. He completed the 11/2 miles on turf in 2:022/5 in winning by 11/2 lengths. Northern Quest, the 7-5 favorite, was third, beaten a length by Kerrygold.

“He wants to run all day,” said Mandella. “In fact, we were hoping for a big race and the possibly get him invited to the [$4.3-million] Japan Cup [Nov. 24 at Tokyo Race Course].

“He’s got a big kick, so I thought if he got a chance to run and got in the clear, I thought he would have a powerful move.”

Making his U.S. debut for Flaxman Stable and trainer Bobby Frankel, Aldebaran was an impressive winner of the $139,200 Nassau Handicap on the final day of Belmont Park’s fall meet.

A 3-year-old son of Mr. Prospector, Aldebaran, the 9-2 fourth choice in the field of seven, won by a little more than three lengths in 1:333/5 for the mile on turf. Captsized, an 11-1 shot, finished a neck in front of 7-5 favorite Tubrok.

This was the second win in eight starts for the Bay colt and Frankel indicated afterward that Aldebaran will ship to California and probably be tried on the main track.

A race earlier, Smok’n Frolic, the 2-1 favorite, dominated her seven rivals to win the $111,500 Tempted Stakes, beating Saintly Action by 61/4 lengths in 1:373/5 for the mile.

Illusioned, the 4-5 favorite, won the $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap in track record time on the opening day of Churchill Downs’ fall meet.

Ridden by Pat Day and trained by Bill Mott, the 3-year-old son of Woodman has won five of eight and he ran the 71/2 furlongs in 1:283/5, besting the former mark of 1:284/5 set nearly a year ago.

Owned by a partnership that includes Team Valor, Bill Heiligbrodt and George Steinbrenner’s Kinsman Stable, Illusioned won by nearly four lengths over 43-1 shot Strawberry Affair.