Bayamo Finally Gets Big Victory

In his ninth start, Bayamo became a graded stakes winner for the first time and it came easily for the 5-year-old, Irish-bred gelding.

The 7-10 favorite against four rivals in the $150,000 American Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park, Bayamo was dominant.

Kept wide throughout by jockey David Flores, the chestnut son of Valanour burst away in the stretch and won the Grade II with plenty in reserve, completing the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.60.

It was the fourth victory for Bayamo. He gives owner Prestonwood Farm and trainer Julio Canani two superior grass runners.

Special Ring, a multiple-stakes winner and runner-up to Candy Ride in the 2003 American, is due to return in the Eddie Read Handicap on July 25 at Del Mar.

Sarafan, who was making his first start since he finished 12th of 14 in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup on April 25 in Hong Kong, finished second, 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Pacesetter and 13-1 longshot Night Patrol finished third, beating Black Bart, the 5-2 second choice who was trying for his third stakes win of the meet, and R McLennen.

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Ghostzapper was successful in his comeback, winning the $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap by 4 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.

Owned by Frank Stronach and trained by Bobby Frankel, the 4-year-old Awesome Again colt, who was the 13-10 favorite in a field of four, completed the seven furlongs in 1:20.42 under jockey Javier Castellano.

“He’s a very good horse,” said Frankel after Ghostzapper, who had been idle since winning the Vosburgh on Sept. 27, won for the fifth time in seven starts. “I’m not surprised, not in the least.”

Aggadan, the longest shot in the Grade II at 5-1, was second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of Unforgettable Max and Lion Tamer was last. Eye Of The Tiger was scratched earlier in the day.

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Favored Classic Elegance ($5.60) ran down stablemate and 8-1 shot Paragon Queen to give owners Bob and Beverly Lewis and trainer Wayne Lukas the exacta in the $100,000 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs.

A 2-year-old Carson City filly, Classic Elegance won for the second time in three starts. She ran the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.18 under jockey Pat Day.

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Ballingarry, the 9-5 favorite, made it back-to-back wins in the $200,000 Stars and Stripes Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Arlington Park.

Ending a five-race losing streak that began after he won the Grade III last year, the 5-year-old Sadler’s Wells’ horse completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:36.30.

Rene Douglas rode the winner for Marsha Naify, the Sidney Port Trust and San Gabriel Investments and trainer Laura De Seroux.