Anak Nikal surged ahead of the favorites to win the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Monday.

With 13-time Monmouth Park riding champion Joe Bravo in the saddle, the 3-year-old worked his way through traffic on the far turn, switched to the middle of the track in the home stretch and seized the lead within the shadow of the finish line.

Anak Nikal, who was 16-1 and won for the third time in 10 lifetime starts, finished a neck ahead of Acai.

Smooth Air, the 4-1 favorite due to a first-place finish in the Ohio Derby in May, was another 1 1/2 lengths behind in third place. West Virginia Derby winner Ready Set never got in gear and finished 11th in the 13-horse field.

Wishful Tomcat broke from the gate in front and hung on for a half-mile before being passed by the eventual sixth-place finisher, Two Step Salsa, making his first start on a dirt track after winning two stake events on Hollywood Parks artificial surface.

Acai was a length in front at the head of the stretch and looked like a sure winner until Anak Nikal collared him in the last 1/16th of a mile.

Anak Nikal, the son of Victory Gallop from Misk, took a winners check for $532,000, boosting his earnings to $875,000 for Four Roses Thoroughbreds of Kassem Masri of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

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Stolis Winner wins All American Futurity.

Stolis Winner won a sizzling stretch duel against previously unbeaten Jet Black Patriot to win the $1.9 million All American Futurity on Monday.

Ridden by G.R. Carter, Stolis Winner outlasted Jet Black Patriot in the 440-yard sprint that became a match race right out of the gates. The win was the seventh out of eight races this year for Stolis Winner and was worth $1 million for owner Jerry Windham of College Station, Texas.

Jet Black Patriot, trying to become the first Louisiana-bred quarter horse to win the breeds most coveted race, had the lead through the first half of the race. Stolis Winner stayed with him, then put on a strong kick over the final 200 yards to hit the finish line a half length in front.

Jess Zooming, overcame some bumping and a troubled trip to finish third, 1 3/4 behind Jet Black Patriot.

Running into a slight head wind, Stolis Winner covered the 440 yards in 21.178 seconds. The 2-year-old brown gelding went off as the 9-5 favorite and returned $5.60, $3.40 and $2.60.

Jet Black Patriot, a black colt that had reeled off five straight wins coming into the futurity, earned $285,000 for owners Richard and Janelle Simon of Zachary, La. The runner-up paid $3.40 and $2.80.

Jess Zooming returned $2.80 to show as the three betting favorites swept the top three places.

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Vineyard Haven wins Hopeful Stakes.

Vineyard Haven won the $250,000 Hopeful Stakes for 2-year-olds by 2 1-4 lengths Monday at Saratoga Race Course.

Alan Garcia, the leading rider at the meet that concluded Monday, rode Vineyard Haven, who benefitted from a poor start by favored Munnings and Cribnote.

Vineyard Haven ran the 7 furlongs in 1:23.40 for his second victory in three starts. He paid $20.90, $8.80 and $4.90. Cribnote paid $6.60 and $3.70 and Munnings paid $2.80 to show.

Posted on September 2nd, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Horse Racing news