Capital Account and Coil gave trainer Bob Baffert a one-two finish in the $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (gr. II) at Del Mar Aug. 26 (VIDEO).
Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable's Capital Account recorded the first stakes victory of his career in the Pat O'Brien, which Baffert has now won six times. Capital Account, a 5-year-old horse by Closing Argument out of the Private Account mare Accountess, finished a closing third in the Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar in his previous start July 29.
The pace for the seven-furlong Polytrack race wasn't that fast, but Capital Account, ridden by David Flores, was content to lag behind in fifth in the six-horse field. Longshot Don Tito nursed a short lead over Coil through fractions of :23.78 and :48.81, with Camp Victory outside in third and Bruce's Dream inside in fourth.
Coil reeled in Don Tito through six furlongs in 1:10.02 with Camp Victory to his outside and Capital Account rallying from the back of the pack. Coil couldn't contain stablemate Capital Account, who edged past to win by a half-length in 1:21.56.
"(Camp Victory) was the horse to beat; he's a really good horse," Baffert said. "But there wasn't a lot of pace, they were sort of walking around there, and then turned it into a sprint for home. Advantage to Capital Account; he's a really fast horse and he's run some really big races.
"Coil really ran well, but Rafael (Bejarano) had to use him a little when it looked like (Camp Victory) was making a move. One-two (finish), we'll take it either way. Capital Account, we knew that seven-eighths would be better for him. He's all racehorse."
"He broke just a shade slow, but there was no rush. I had a feeling there wasn't going to be a lot of pace and I just wanted to stay close," Flores said. "You can put him where you want him and he's easy to work with. When it came time I asked him and he gave me a big response. A very good race for him."
Capital Account paid $7.60 to win and topped an $18.80 exacta with slightly favored Coil. Camp Victory finished a length behind Coil for third.
Capital Account, bred in Kentucky by Silverleaf Farms, was a $330,000 purchase at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. He won his first two starts in 2010 and has been lightly raced since then, with two starts in 2011 and now five in 2012.
Coil, winner of last year's Haskell Invitational (gr. I), made his 4-year-old debut July 26 in a seven-furlong allowance race at Del Mar and appears poised to stretch out again for his next start.
