Pirates Bite Takes Big Chunk in Regaey Island

(from Ellis Park report)
Pirates Bite with Calvin Borel aboard broke quickly from the rail and was allowed an easy lead throughout to post a 1 ½ -length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Regaey Island for 3-year-olds on the turf at Ellis Park.

Pirates Bite won for the third time in nine career starts and paid $59.80, $21.80, and $18.20 as the ninth choice in a field of 11. Slammin' Sam, ridden by Bill Troilo, returned $9.60 and $5.40. Mesawmi was just a neck back under Eddie Martin, Jr. and paid $3.40 as the beaten favorite.

Pirates Bite, a 3-year-old son of Military owned by Walts David Stable LLC, covered the 1 1/16-mile distance on firm turf in 1:43.66. He earned $46,000 to more than double his career earnings to $87,820.

Trained by Bob Holthus, Pirates Bite was able to get a clear lead on the rail in moderate fractions of :24.13 for the opening quarter mile, :48.10 for the half-mile, and 1:12.70 for three-quarters of a mile. The lack of an early challenge left him with plenty of run in the stretch to hold off stalkers Slammin' Sam and Mesawmi.

Holthus' other entry in the race, River Wood Dancer, was a nose in front of Nolan's Cat for fourth. Nolan's Cat, third in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), was the 5-2 morning line favorite, but went off as the third choice.

Fire It Up, Hole in the Head, Kid Grindstone, Honor My Grades, Broke Sharply, and Big B in the Lead completed the order of finish.

(Chart, Equibase)