Santa Anita: Lord Bullingdon wears the crown in Eddie Logan

Taken in-hand out of the gate by Umberto Rispoli, favored Lord Bullingdon saved ground throughout and sprinted home impressively to take Friday’s $100,000 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita by two lengths, getting one mile on turf in 1:36.15.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Lord Bullingdon was a joint fifth, about four lengths off long-shot pacesetter Charge for Gold around the first turn, hugged the fence to the top of the lane and drove past Charge for Gold a sixteenth out in a very impressive effort.

An ungraded one mile turf stakes winner here two starts back on Nov. 3, Lord Bullingdon was most recently a close fourth in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3) at a mile on grass Dec. 3 at Del Mar. Off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of six juveniles with Rispoli riding back for the third time in a row, Lord Bullingdon paid $6.80, $3.40 and $2.80.

“It was a very good trip, I sat behind the speed," he said. "Last time I have to say it was my fault, I didn’t give him a chance to get his legs under him. Today he was a different horse. He dragged me up there, I found the gap at the top of the stretch and he did the rest. He is a very good horse today, acting more professionally." 

McCarthy said he was impressed that Lord Bullingdon could overcome pedestrian early fractions.

"I thought we needed a little help up front today and today fractions were pretty moderate actually, 49 and two is basically walking here," he said. "Horse was able to lay up close to the outside pocket and Umberto found a great seam. The horse responded nicely for him. Great way to end the year.”  

Owned by Colbart Stables and Michael McCarthy Racing Stable, Lord Bullingdon, a Kentucky-bred colt by Lord Nelson, out of the Leroidesanimaux mare Ms Silver Oak, now has two wins and as many second from six starts. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he now has earnings of $186,220.

Breaking from post position one, trainer Phil Oviedo’s Charge for Gold went to the front and with Ricky Gonzalez up, was able to carve out modest fractions of 23.62, 49.37, 1:13.51 and 1:24.82.

The longest shot in the field at 18-1, Charge for Gold held second money by a half length over Twirling Point and paid $13.20 and $4.60.

Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Twirling Point was off at 6-1 and paid $4.40 to show