Mt Veeder Kicks Clear Late in Contender

Heavily-favored Mt Veeder did the anticipated Sunday, easily capturing the $75,000 Contender Stakes at Los Alamitos.

The 2-5 favorite against four other 2-year-olds on the strength of an impressive debut score Aug. 15 at Del Mar, the son of Mt Veeder broke on top under jockey Martin Garcia and kicked clear late after a mild challenge at the head of the stretch.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for owners George Bolton and Stonestreet Stables, Mt Veeder completed the six furlongs in 1:09.35 while winning by 4 ¾ lengths.

A $200,000 purchase at the Keeneland September sale last year, the son of Ghostzapper and the Gold Case mare Glenbriar Girl pushed his earnings to $84,750. He paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10.

Paynes Prairie, the 5-2 second choice, returned $2.60 and $2.10 while finishing 2 ¾ lengths in front of 9-2 third choice Bully Pulpit. The show price on Bully Pulpit was $2.10. Completing the order of finish were Panther Creek and Phantom Heat. Bistraya was a veterinarian scratch at the starting gate.

“He’s a fast horse and (jockey) Martin (Garcia) just sat on him and let him do his job,’’ said Baffert’s assistant trainer Mike Marlow.  “He looked good all the way. He did it pretty easy.’’

Although he had to settle for second in the Contender, jockey Flavien Prat had a memorable Sunday.

A 23-year-old native of France, Prat won four times as the first week of the Fall meet concluded.

He won the opener with Fab Four Ever ($10.40), went gate-to-wire with Wings of Mojave ($7.20) in the third, took the sixth with favored Unusual Storm ($3.80) in the sixth before completing his quadruple with 9-1 shot Love My Bud in the ninth race.