As Expected, Favorite Azeri Is Right on Track Again

Azeri added Keeneland to the list of tracks in which she has won with an expected victory in the $500,000 Spinster on Sunday.

Getting ready for a start in the Breeders’ Cup -- whether it be against males in the Classic or against females in the Distaff remains to be seen -- on Oct. 30, the 6-year-old Jade Hunter mare wasn’t fully extended to beat 10-1 shot Tamwheel and five others in her first appearance at Keeneland. She also has victories at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Oaklawn Park, Arlington Park and Saratoga.

Completing the 1 1/8 miles in the Grade I in 1:49.74 under jockey Pat Day, Azeri, the 2-5 favorite, earned her 17th win in 23 starts and pushed her record bankroll to $3,959,820.

“I think she ranks right up there as one of the all-time best mares,” said Wayne Lukas, who trains Azeri and who also trained female superstars Winning Colors, Lady’s Secret, Spain and Serena’s Song. “I’ve had some good ones, but you should always like the one you are dating. So, the one you are going home with is the one you like best.”

Tamwheel, who set the pace under Rene Douglas, finished three lengths behind the winner, but a half a length in front of Mayo On The Side, who had defeated Azeri in the Humana Distaff Handicap earlier in the year. House Of Fortune, the 4-1 second choice, finished last in her first race against older.

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Pt’s Grey Eagle, the second longest shot in the field at nearly 30-1, became the first 3-year-old since Groovy in 1986 to win the $213,000 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap, a Grade I, at Santa Anita.

Claimed for $62,500 by trainer Craig Dollase for owner J. Paul Reddam out of a maiden win Nov. 11 at Hollywood Park, the gray son of Pleasant Tap rallied from off the pace to beat 13-10 favorite Pohave by half a length. Ridden by apprentice Alex Bisono, Pt’s Grey Eagle, who had never competed in a graded stakes, ran the six furlongs in 1:08.84.

Dollase, who won the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Reraise, a former claimer who was supplemented to the race for $120,000, indicated it’s a possibility Pt’s Grey Eagle could be supplemented to this year’s Sprint. It would cost Reddam $90,000.

“He’s an improving 3-year-old,” said Dollase. “We’ll talk it over with Paul and hope the horse comes out of the race well. Stranger things have happened, so we’ll see.”

Hombre Rapido, the pacesetter, finished third, two lengths behind Pohave, then came Kamsack, 5-2 second choice Bluesthestandard, During, Rojo Toro and Omega Code.

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Two races before the Spinster, Stay Forever, an 8-1 shot, rallied from last to win the $500,000 Winstar Galaxy, a Grade II, by half a length over 10-1 outsider Super Brand.

Eddie Castro rode the 7-year-old Stack mare for trainer Marty Wolfson. She ran the 1 3/16 miles on turf in 1:57.08.

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Lady Tak, the 4-5 favorite, beat 8-1 shot Molto Vita by two lengths in the $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.

The victory was the fourth in the last five starts for the 4-year-old Mutakddim filly, who is trained by Steve Asmussen. Lady Tak ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in the Grade II in 1:16.04 under John Velazquez. She has won 10 of 17 lifetime.