Former claimer on to bigger things after Cary Grant win
Edwards Going Left, the 2-1 betting choice, spoiled Solid Wager’s bid for a third consecutive victory in the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes Sunday, holding on gamely in the final sixteenth to win the seven-furlong sprint by a half-length.
Regular rider Tyler Baze was aboard Edwards Going Left for his sixth victory in nine lifetime races as the three-year-old gelding accomplished the distance in 1:22.98. Solid Wager turned in a game performance under Victor Espinoza, rallying from last place in the ten-horse field to narrowly miss a successful defense of his two-time title.
“He’s probably the claimer of the year, wouldn’t you say?" asked trainer John Sadler. "He’s won six races on the Southern California circuit (since being claimed for $50,000 in February), which is hard to do. We’re obviously very happy with him. Being a 3-year-old, we’ll nominate him to the Malibu (December 26 at Santa Anita) and we’ll see how it looks. I’ve outgrown that (claiming trainer tag) but we have a nice record for turning claimers into stakes winners and I’m really proud of that.”
Third was California Diamond, three and one-half lengths behind stablemate Solid Wager from the barn of trainer Peter Miller, with Smokey Image a nose away in fourth.
Edwards Going Left, a son of Midnight Lute owned by Hronis Racing,, returned $6.60, $4 and $3 while earning first money of $57,000 to boost his bankroll to $231,390. He was claimed out of his career debut for $50,000 Feb. 9 of this year at Santa Anita.
Solid Wager, sent postward at 9-2, paid $5 and $3.60, while California Diamond returned $4 to show.
“I just wanted to keep him in the clear today; not let him get in trouble," Baze said. "I could feel that horse (late-charging Solid Wager – the winner of this race the past two years) coming. I’ve never hit this horse right handed, because he tends to lug in. But I hit him right handed and I think it surprised him. It gave him that little bump he needed to get there. It was a good race for him; he like to win.”
Miller, top trainer during the 2016 Bing Crosby season and headed to a repeat this fall, had sent out three winners on the program Sunday prior to Solid Wager’s valiant try in the Grant Stakes – Handful of Stripes in the second, Black Tie ‘n Tails in the fifth and Dominating Woman in the seventh.
The triple gave Miller 14 wins for the meeting, far in front in the standings with four racing days to go. The 18-day season will conclude Sunday, Nov. 26.