Edneator, 44-1, Upsets Longacres Mile

Edneator, 44-1, Upsets Longacres Mile
by Blood-Horse Staff
Date Posted: 8/20/2000 9:33:43 PM
Last Updated: 8/21/2000 9:23:32 AM

Jockey Gallyn Mitchell, right, on Edneator, looks back at Alex Solis, riding Big Ten, while crossing the finish line in the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs Sunday.
Photo: Associated Press/Jay Drowns

Homestretch Farm's locally based Washington-bred Edneator earned his third career victory by setting a blazing early pace and holding on to win the $250,000 Longacres Mile (gr. III) by 1 1/2 lengths over 2-1 favorite Big Ten Sunday at Emerald Downs. Edneator's previous wins came in an optional claiming race and a maiden race. Under jockey Gallyn Mitchell, Edneator completed the mile in 1:33 1/5. In April, he equaled the Emerald Downs track record for 6 1/2 furlongs, winning the optional claiming race in 1:14 2/5.

Edneator returned $85.20, $23, and $9. The winning $1 exacta combination paid $232.70.

Over a fast track, Edneator set fractions of :22 2/5 and :44 3/5 while dueling with Handy N Bold for the lead. He brushed off that rival and increased his lead on the turn for home, running six furlongs in a very fast 1:07 4/5. After the quick fractions the 4-year-old gelding had every reason to tire in the stretch, but he continued on gamely, racing seven furlongs in 1:20 1/5 en route to his first stakes victory.

Crafty Boy finished third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Big Ten. Robynhood was fourth, followed by Thetruthisoutthere, Handy N Bold, Radar Contact, Zanetti, Bold Words, Koslanin, and Commitisize. 1997 Longacres Mile winner Kid Katabatic was scratched.

Edneator (Delineator--Rainbow Writer, by Staff Writer) earned $137,500 for the win, bringing his career earnings to $188,465. He is trained by Jim Penney and was bred by Jill Fabulich and Kay Cooper. Edneator finished third in stakes races on three prior occasions, including the listed $100,000 Gottstein Futurity, in which Arlington Million (gr. I) third-place finisher Mula Gula finshed second. (Chart, Equibase)

SUBSCRIBE to The Blood-Horse magazine TODAY!