Ide Like A Double Wins Costa Rising

Valene Farms’ Ide Like a Double, settled behind the pace set by stablemate Autobeacat, took command in upper stretch and held sway late to win Saturday’s inaugural running of the $60,000 Costa Rising Stakes by a length and a half.

Trained by Bryon Gilbert and ridden by Pat Valenzuela, Ide Like a Double returned mutuels of $4, $2.40 and $2.10, accomplished the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.76 and increased his career earnings to $526,396 with his eighth win in 26 lifetime starts.

“I rode this horse with confidence,” said Valenzuela after the race. “He’s a very nice horse and ran some very nice races in the past. Hallway beat him last time, but if he’d have stayed in there today (Hallway scratched) I think we might have beat him.”

Heiligbrodt Racing Stable’s Snug pressed the pace throughout, could not stay with the winner when challenged but was clearly second best by a length and a half. Snug returned $4.20 and $3.40.

Red Oak Stable’s Kissimmee Kyle rallied late to finish third, paying $3.40 in the show spot.

Autobeacat, also owned by Valene, set early splits of 23.95 and 47.64 before tiring to seventh at the wire.

Racing resumes Sunday at Fair Grounds with an 11-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.