Victor's Cry takes Citation Handicap at Hollywood
November 28, 2010INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -Victor's Cry, an 11-1 long shot, rallied from next-to-last and used a powerful stretch run Saturday to win the $250,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Eoin Harty, the 5-year-old Victor's Cry was ninth early in the field of 10, moved to fifth on the second turn and squeezed through a small hole in the stretch to beat Proudinsky by 1 3/4 lengths, covering 1 1-16 miles on the turf in 1:39.86.
``There was just enough room to get through and when I turned him loose, he had a really strong kick,'' Espinoza said. ``I just had to show him the whip, I didn't really have to hit him. He won easily. I was very impressed.''
The winner paid $24.40, $12 and $6.20. Proudinsky returned $15.40 and $8.20, and Meteore paid $11.40 to show.
Court Vision, the overwhelming favorite, was 10th for most of the race and had to rally for fourth.
It was the second time this year Victor's Cry scored a major long shot win on the Hollywood Park turf - he also won the Shoemaker at 21-1 in June, and is 3 for 5 on the turf course. He has won six of 20 career starts and earned $564,021.
Earlier, 2-year-old gelding Comma to the Top won the $100,000 Generous Stakes.
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, the even-money favorite won his fourth straight race but his first on turf and his first graded stakes, beating Moment of Weakness by 1 3/4 lengths and covering a mile in 1:34.77.