Favored Apart got the graded stakes racing at the 2010 Breeders' Cup off to a formfull start when he wore down Demarcation in the stretch to win the $108,600 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) (VIDEO) Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
The stakes preceded the beginning of this year's Breeders' Cup, which has six stakes scheduled for the first-day of the festival.
Last early, Apart, ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez, launched his bid four wide on the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile event. He engaged the leading trio of Colizeo, Demarcation and a tiring Jackson Bend approaching mid-stretch and got the lead in the final furlong. Apart edged away from Demarcation, the defending Ack Ack champion, for a three-quarters of a length win in a time of 1:43.79 on a fast main track.
Trained by Al Stall Jr., Adele Dilschneider's 3-year-old Kentucky homebred colt by Flatter --Detach, by Unbridled, was coming off a sharp 1 1/-2 length victory in the Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs Sept. 25. Apart has now won three races in a row, all in stakes.
“In Louisiana, he ran off on us a couple of times," Stall noted. "Garrett was waiting around a little because sometimes this horse grabs the bit. Garrett wanted to put him to sleep, and obviously he did a very good job. He was a big gangly colt, starting to fill in and he’ll be a nice 4-year-old for us.”
Demarcation, with Calvin Borel, finished two lengths in front of Colizeo. Jackson Bend and Silver Edition trailed in the five-horse field.
Sharing top weight of 117 pounds with Demarcation, Apart improved his career mark to 4-1-0 in seven starts with earnings of $469,878.
Gomez was returning from a spill the preceding day.
“I'm fine," he said. "Just watch me ride. I'm a little achy, that's to be expected, I had a 1,200-pound animal fall on top of me yesterday.”
Apart paid $4.80, $3, and $2.10 and topped a $15.60 exacta with Demarcation ($3.40, $2.20), who won last year's Ack Ack by 1 1/2 lengths for trainer Paul McGee. Colizeo was $2.20 to show.
Stream Cat scratched.