SKIP AWAY UPSET, RUNS 2ND TO FORMAL GOLD IN DONN 'CAP.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Formal Gold took an early lead on Skip Away Skip Away (born April 4, 1993), a gray thoroughbred race horse, was named America's Champion 3 Year Old Male in 1996 and twice (1997, 1998) named America's Champion Handicap Horse. and kept it, holding off last year's 3-year-old Eclipse Award champion down the stretch Saturday to win the $300,000 Donn Handicap The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack. at Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans January through March, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America. . Ridden by Joe Bravo Joe Bravo a Puerto Rican professional wrestler best known for performing with the International Wrestling Association. Joe Bravo is currently a part of the Dominican Revolution stable in the IWA with leader Bakano, El Diamante, Diabolico and La Morena. , Formal Gold covered 1-1/8 miles in 1:47 for his first stakes victory. The final margin was 1-1/4 lengths. Mecke came from last place to finish third, six lengths back. Formal Gold, a 6-1 shot, carried just 113 pounds, 10 less than the top-weighted Skip Away, a 3-5 favorite. ``It was a speed-favoring track all day,'' said Shane Sellers, who rode Skip Away. ``We were in perfect position, but the winner had the advantage this time. The big thing is my horse ran big and came back good. He'll be a lot tougher next time out.'' Both Skip Away and Formal Gold likely will be pointed toward the $500,000 Gulfstream Handicap on March 1. Skip Away had not raced since Oct. 5, when he beat two-time Horse of the Year Cigar in the Jockey Club Gold Cup The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers in October at Belmont. Formal Gold took the lead on the inside going to the first turn, outrunning Skip Away. Formal Gold's lead was a length down the backside and at the quarter pole. Skip Away tried to gain ground approaching the eighth pole, but Formal Gold held off the favorite. Elsewhere on the Gulfstream card, Pulpit, also ridden by Sellers, affirmed his status as a Kentucky Derby contender in the sixth race, leading from start to finish and winning by 6-3/4 lengths. Pulpit, unraced as a 2-year-old, ran a 1 1/16 miles in 1:42. |
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