Askbut I Won'ttell, Twilight Meteor win at Calder
December 5, 2010MIAMI (AP) -Askbut I Won'ttell beat Trip for A.J. by three-quarters of a length to win the $100,000 My Charmer Handicap for fillies and mares, one two Grade 3 stakes Saturday at Calder Race Course.
Ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Askbut I Won'ttell covered the 1 1-8 miles on grass in 1:47 4/5 and paid 15.80, 7.00 and 4.40. Trip for A.J., which led from the start until the final yards, returned 6.60 and 5.20. Evading Tempete finished third, paying 6.20.
In the co-featured Tropical Turf Handicap, for 3 year olds and up, longshot Twilight Meteor broke on top and held off Rahy's Attorney and Baletti to win by a neck. Rahy's Attorney was second by half a length over Belotti.
Trip for A.J. had the early lead but was pressured by Volver down the backstretch and to the quarter pole where Volver stopped abruptly - and finished last. Trip for A.J. turned back a challenge from Evading Tempete but could not hold off the powerful late run by Askbut I Won'ttell.
The 4-year-old Florida bred filly is owned by Team Block and Rich Ege. In her previous start she won the Grade 3 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs with a strong finish, and has earned $320,132 with six victories in 16 races.
Twilight Meteor, ridden by Luis Saez, finished in 1:46 4/5 and paid 32.00, 13.80 and 9.60. Rahy's Attorney returned 6.60 and 5.00, and Baletti paid 9.60.
After sprinting to the front leaving the gate Twilight Meteor maintained a narrow lead down the backstrtech, pressured by Souper Spectacular, Bim Bam and El Kingdom. He opened two lengths in midstretch but had to hold on as Rahy's Attorney came at him from the outside and Baletti rallied to his inside.
Twilight Meteor won the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream last February but did not race again until Oct. 23 at Calder, finishing third in a 7 1/2-furlong race. The 6-year-old son of Smart Strike is Canadian bred and owned by Peachtree Stable. He has earned $636,444 with five wins, four second-place finishes and four thirds in 19 career races.