Grand Tito Bests Kaigun in Mac Diarmida
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Kenny Martin
Grand Tito leads the way to victory in the Mac Diarmida Stakes.
Rating comfortably in second throughout, Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Grand Tito bounded to the lead off the turn and won the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) by 1 1/4 lengths March 5 at Gulfstream Park.
The 6-year-old son of Candy Ride finished 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:12.55 while easily holding the late-closing Kaigun at bay. Mr Maybe, the 9-5 favorite, was third in rallying from last in the seven horse field.
With Emisael Jaramillo riding for trainer Gustavo Delgado, Grand Tito stalked about a length behind early pacesetter and 53-1 longshot O'Prado Ole while racing three wide. O'Prado Ole yielded through the final three-sixteenths and Grand Tito cruised to his second graded stakes win. Kaigun, seeking to halt a string of runner-up finishes, closed with a steady rally but had to settle for second a fourth straight time.
Grand Tito, who won his season debut Feb. 13 at Gulfstream, has a 9-7-4 record from 33 career starts that include a victory in the off-the-turf Miami Mile (gr. III) in 2014. He paid $20.40, $8, and $5.40, across the board; Kaigun paid $7.40 and $3.80, and Mr Maybe returned $3.20 to show.
Bred in Kentucky Hargus and Sandra Sexton and Ben P. Walden Jr., Grand Tito is out of the Common Grounds mare Golden Arches. Grupo 7C Racing bought him from his breeders for $225,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale and he has bankrolled $585,387.
O'Prado Ole finished fourth, followed by Da Big Hoss, All Included, and Twilight Eclipse, the 2014 race winner, to complete the order of finish.