Giant Oak earns 2nd Grade 1 win in Donn Handicap
February 5, 2011HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Giant Oak unleashed a powerful stretch rally to capture the Grade 1 $500,000 Donn Handicap by two lengths over Morning Line at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
The son of Giant's Causeway covered the 1 1/8-mile in 1:48.23 with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard to earn $16.80, $7.20 and $4.20. Morning Line paid $5.00 and $3.40, and Rule was a nose back in third to return $2.60.
``I had a good feeling going into the race,'' said winning trainer Chris Block. ``I've never seen him get up into the bridle the way he did today.''
Favorite Fly Down was coming off a third-place finish behind Blame and Horse of the Year Zenyatta in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, but never factored and finished fifth.
Bridgmohan was happy to see his mount finally coming of age.
``He's just really growing up,'' Bridgmohan said. ``He's come such a long way. It's so good to see because he's always had a ton of ability and I'm happy that he's finally getting to show it.''
The Grade 1 win was the second straight for Giant Oak, who won the Clark at Churchill Downs via disqualification on Nov. 26.
The 5-year-old improved to 5-5-3 in 24 career starts, with the $300,000 winner's share pushing his career earnings to over $1.2 million.
In earlier Grade 1 action, 25-1 shot Teaks North won the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap in 1:46.39.
The 4-year-old son of Northern Afleet trained by Justin Sallusto and ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr. earned his first Grade 1 victory by taking the 1 1/8-mile turf event by a nose over Smart Bid. Get Stormy was third.
Teaks North paid $52.60, $19.20 and $10.20, Smart Bid returned $9.00 and $5.80, and Get Stormy earned $5.40. The exacta paid $423.60.
Even-money favorite Battle of Hastings was never a factor in finishing fourth.