Bobbie Use Holds On in Tropical Park Oaks

Sanford Goldfarb's New York-bred filly Bobbie Use won the $100,000 Tropical Park Oaks at Calder Race Course on Thursday, defeating Cold Wynnter by a neck.

Pacesetter Last Waltz was 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

The Tropical Park Oaks is a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes race on New Year's Day for just-turned 3-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Eibar Coa, Bobbie Use tracked Last Waltz into the stretch and took over in the final sixteenth while Cold Wynnter made a strong bid racing along the hedge.

The lukewarm favorite in the 12-horse field, Bobbie Use covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:42 and paid $8.40, 3.80 and 3.20. Cold Wynnter returned $4.40 and 3.40, while pacesetter Last Waltz paid $5.20 for the show.

"That's the way to start the new year," said Coa. "At the eighth (pole), I saw Jerry (Bailey) coming on the inside (aboard Cold Wynnter) but I knew he wasn't going to get me. I was very happy about it."

The victory was worth $60,000 to her New York connections. In her previous start, Bobbie Use was second by a head in the Miss Grillo Stakes on the grass at Belmont Park. Trained by Richard Dutrow, the daughter of Not For Love was making the fifth start of her career.

Bobbie Use was a $110,000 buy at Calder in the Fasig-Tipton February 2-year-old sale.

(Chart, Equibase)