Explicit and Hook and Ladder were out of the gate fastest, and Explicit went the first quarter in :21.40, with the half in a scorching :43.67. Say Florida Sandy, reserved on the inside by jockey Aaron Gryder, angled out around the turn and found room between horses to launch his winning bid. Juan Serey trained the winner, who earlier this year also won the Grade III Bold Ruler Handicap. The veteran has won 26 races from 72 lifetime starts, good for nearly $1.5 million. Say Florida Sandy was bred in New York by Sanford Bacon. (Chart, Equibase)
Bucking a daylong speed bias, John Rotella's Say Florida Sandy rallied from off a torrid pace to capture the $150,000 Grade II True North Handicap on the Belmont Stakes undercard. The 7-year-old son of Personal Flag scorched the six furlongs in 1:08.77, a neck better than Wake At Noon. Explicit, who set the hot early tempo, finished third. Say Florida Sandy paid $8.70 for the victory.
