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Medaglia d'Oro wins after three-month layoff
Saturday February 01, 2003
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Medaglia d'Oro, fresh from a three-month
layoff and making his debut as a 4-year-old, romped to a
seven-length victory in the $400,000 Strub Stakes on Saturday at
Santa Anita.
Ridden by Jerry Bailey, who flew in from Florida, Medaglia d'Oro
easily put away five lesser rivals, none of whom have won a Grade I
race. He didn't have to face any of his opponents from last year's
3-year-old division, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner
War Emblem and Santa Anita Derby winner Came Home, both of whom
have retired.
Medaglia d'Oro lost out to War Emblem as 3-year-old of the year
in the Eclipse Awards on Monday. Came Home was the other finalist.
Medaglia d'Oro covered 1 1-8 miles in 1:48.04 and paid $2.80,
$2.20 and $2.10 as the 2-5 wagering favorite. He carried high
weight of 123 pounds in the prep for next month's $1 million Santa
Anita Handicap.
Bailey guided Medaglia d'Oro to the lead, dropped down to the
rail at the first turn, and moved clear by the second turn. After
pushing Medaglia d'Oro to a bigger lead in the stretch, Bailey
backed off and didn't use his whip.
It was Medaglia d'Oro's first race since finishing second to
long shot winner Volponi in the Breeders' Cup Classic in October at
Chicago's Arlington Park. He was second to 70-1 shot Sarava in the
Belmont Stakes, then won the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes at
Saratoga before losing in Chicago.
Bobby Frankel, who saddled Mizzen Mast last year, became the
third trainer to win consecutive Strubs. Bob Baffert did so in 2000
with General Challenge and in 2001 with Wooden Phone, while John
Canty won in 1972 and '73.
Olmodavor returned $3.20 and $2.10, while Tracemark was another
half-length back in third and paid $2.10 to show.
Easy Grades, 13th in the Kentucky Derby, was fourth; Pass Rush
was fifth; and Castle Gandolfo, 12th in the Kentucky Derby under
Bailey, was sixth.
Medaglia d'Oro earned $240,000.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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