|
The Pizza Man, showing no ill effects from a busy schedule and a trip to the West Coast, feasted on the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes field Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, rallying wide and from far back to score easily in 2:31.75 for the 12 furlongs on a turf course rated firm at Del Mar. Fifth last out in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, The Pizza Man rebounded to win for the fourth time in seven tries this season. His share of the $250,000 Turf Cup purse raised his earnings to more than $1.9 million for his career. The Pizza Man was bred in Illinois and races as a homebred for Midwest Thoroughbreds. He is a 6-year-old son of English Channel out of the Lear Fan mare I Can Fan Fan. The pace was slow throughout the Turf Cup, as Class Leader and Southern Freedom kept each other company on the front end through the first turn and past the stands the first time. Jockey Mike Smith, meanwhile, had The Pizza Man reserved near the back of the 14-horse field despite the tepid fractions. The opening half mile went in :51.10 seconds and three-quarters was clocked in 1:17.28. Not much changed through the second turn, as Procurement moved up and Southern Freedom gained the lead up the backstretch. It wasn't until nearing the third turn that Smith angled The Pizza Man, still back in 10th position, toward the outside. Once in the clear, he began picking off foes quickly. Off the final turn the Roger Brueggemann trainee was eight-wide, but he dominated from there, cruising past the field to victory. Second choice Big John B, the local hope, followed The Pizza Man in the center of the course and gained the place. Power Foot was along for third. The winner paid $4.20, $2.80, and $2.60. Big John B returned $3.80 in both the place and show columns, and Power Foot paid $13.20 to show. The Pizza Man, third in last year's Hollywood Turf Cup, has won 15 of 26 career starts.
|
