Joelito Hugs Rail at Santa Anita

Joelito, with Corey Nakatani up, hugged the temporary rail turning for home and went on to a half length victory in Thursday’s $60,000 Comet Purse allowance at Santa Anita, covering 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.12.

With the rail set at 30 feet, Nakatani saved ground the entire trip, sitting a comfortable fourth to the quarter pole behind fractions of 23.00, 46.98, 1:10.48 and 1:34.25.

“My main concern today was that he be comfortable with wherever we put him,” said Nakatani.  “I’m happy we were able to get there with him today.”                    .

The morning line favorite at 3-1, Joelito was overlayed at 9-2 in a field of eight older horses and paid $11.00, $4.40 and $3.80.                                                                .

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and owned by J.W. Singer, Inc., Joelito, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Rock Hard Ten, picked up $36,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $139,857.  

“We’re very happy with him, I can’t believe he paid eleven dollars,” said Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward.

Power Ped, off at 5-1 with Mike Smith, was next-to-last early, cut to the rail at the top of the stretch and was getting to the winner late, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Spring Up.  Power Ped paid $7.20 and $5.80.

Spring Up, ridden by Edwin Maldonado, was forwardly placed and outfinished the favorite late, paying $4.40 to show.

Monastic, the 2-1 favorite with Gary Stevens, sat a close second early, overtook longshot pacesetter Ever Rider leaving the half mile pole, but faltered through the drive.