Reporting Star Edges Divisidero in Appleton
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
Reporting Star gets up late to win the Appleton.
Merriebelle Stable's Reporting Star ran down 5-2 favorite Force the Pass and held off 7-2 third choice Divisidero to win the $200,000 Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) April 2 at Gulfstream Park.
Off at odds of 8-1, the 6-year-old gelded son of Circular Quay returned to winning ways for his new connections after closing 2015 with a victory in the El Prado Stakes and then beginning the 2016 season with a runner-up finish by half a length to Manchurian High in the Jan. 16 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes. He was formerly conditioned by Pat Parente for Copper Water Thoroughbred Company, and moved to trainer Brendan Walsh after a private sale.
"We haven't had him that long," said assistant trainer Dorie Smith. "We got him after his last race. He's a little feisty, but he's manageable and you just have to cater to his needs. He's really been improving with every work. When it started raining I thought it might suit us."
Jockey Luis Saez rated Reporting Star in third behind pacesetter Long On Value and Force the Pass early, then ran down Force the Pass after the favorite in the eight-horse field had taken the lead. He held off a wide-running Divisidero by a half-length. Force the Pass finished a head back in third.
Final time for the mile test was 1:35.52 on good turf.
"I wanted to get him in a good spot," Saez said. "After a half-mile, he was pulling, but I kept waiting a little bit. As soon as we got to the stretch, I let him go. In the stretch I thought the 7 (Force the Pass) would be a little closer to me, but he kept responding when we got to the wire."
Reporting Star paid $19, $9.20, and $5.40. Divisidero brought $5.60 and $3.60, and Force the Pass paid $4. Sky Captain, Long On Value, With Exultation, Aktabantay, and All Included completed the order of finish.
Bred in Florida by Gilbert G. Campbell out of the Sword Dance mare Classic Beauty, Reporting Star improved his record to 7-7-8 from 28 starts for earnings of $738,026.