Fury Kapcori Keeps Winning Streak Alive
Heavily favored Fury Kapcori registered his fourth win in-a-row at Santa Anita with an emphatic 5 ¾ length gate to wire win in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Precisionist Stakes, getting 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.11. An estimated on-track crowd of 26,211 enjoyed a sun-soaked afternoon replete with Kentucky Derby activities and a freakish Derby win via simulcast by California-bred California Chrome.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Fury Kapcori broke sharply from his outside post position and dominated a half dozen three year olds and up through fractions of 23.25, 46.48, 1:10.25 and 1:35.50—and appears en-route to the Grade I, $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 28.
“Last year, we were a little bit disappointed,” said Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward. “But when you look back, they were all good races and he just likes this track. He’s maturing, like it’s (Santa Anita’s main track) his now…
“That’s why we didn’t go to Oaklawn (for the Grade I Oaklawn Handicap on April 12), and that’s why we didn’t go to the Alysheba (Stakes, run today at Churchill Downs) because we’re pointing to this series here—the Precisionist, the Californian (Grade II, May 31) and the Gold Cup.”
Off at 2-5, Fury Kapcori paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10.
Owned by Rick Awtrey, George Todaro and Hollendorfer, the 4-year-old colt by Tiznow picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $479,880. He overall record now stands at 14-6-4-1.
Bejarano, who has been aboard throughout his four-game win streak, addressed Fury Kapcori’s ascent as one of Southern California’s top prospects in the older horse division.
"My horse is getting better every time he runs,” he said. “He’s a big horse. He shows me a lot of speed and he’s learning more with every race.”
Second throughout with Mario Gutierrez up, Handsome Mike, off at 15-1, held second by three quarters of a length over Majestic City and paid $7.20 and $3.80.
The third choice at 5-1, Majestic City was third turning for home and was getting to Handsome Mike late. Majestic City, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, paid $2.80 to show.