By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2015) — California-bred Alert Bay rallied late to capture the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (gr. IIT) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park.
Martin Garcia rode the 4-year-old gelding by City Zip out of the Dushyantor mare Hickory for trainer Blaine Wright. It was the second grade II turf victory for Alert Bay, who in 2014 won the Mathis Brothers Mile at Santa Anita.
Longshot Hot Hot Heat set the early fractions of :22.69 for the opening quarter-mile and :45.74 for the half-mile before Big Cazanova took over from the pocket spot. The latter was moving well after six furlongs in 1:09.58 but couldn’t withstand the late rally of the winner.
Avanzare, winner of back-to-back grade II turf stakes in California, finished third after racing in that position for most of the race.
Alert Bay finished the one mile on firm turf in 1:33.58.
Alert Bay, bred by Thomas Newton Bell and Ross John McLeod and owned by Peter Redekop, paid $10.80 as the third choice in a field of eight. He finished a length ahead of Big Cazanova, who had 1 1/2 lengths on favored Avanzare.
Alert Bay now has 10 wins in 19 starts and earnings of $954,495.