Sunday, March 03, 2002
Request for Parole wins Battaglia Memorial
Came Home comes home in San Rafael
Enquirer staff, wire reports
Request for Parole prevailed by a nose over Perfect Drift to prevail in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes Saturday at Turfway Park. The race is the final local prep for the $500,000 Lane's End Spiral Stakes March 23.
Entrymate Thunder On Land set the early pace, while Request for Parole settled into third along the rail. Jockey Brian Peck took Request for Parole to the outside going into the turn for home and overtook the frontrunners as Perfect Drift came through on the rail to challenge.
Request for Parole finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 over a muddy track. Thunder On Land held on for third, 13 3/4 lengths back.
“This colt does just enough to win,” Peck said. “He made the lead, and when I called on him, he opened up. He's smart enough that if anyone catches him, he finds another gear.”
Request for Parole is 4-3-1 in nine starts and has earnings of $291,212. “I think last year those other horses (Kentucky Derby contenders Harlan's Holiday and Repent) taught him how to win,” winning trainer Steve Margolis said. “I used to think maybe he wasn't as good as them, but he's just now improving.”
Perfect Drift, who also ran second to Request for Parole in the WEBN Frog Stakes, will join the winner in the Spiral, trainer Murray Johnson said.
SAN RAFAEL:
Came Home, emerging as the West's best 3-year-old, romped to a 3-length victory under Chris McCarron at Santa Anita. Easy Grades finished second, a head in front of Werblin.
• His top two horses sidelined by injuries, trainer Bobby Frankel still saddled the winner of the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, when Milwaukee Brew took command down the stretch. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Milwaukee Brew finished 4 lengths in front, with the other 13 horses — the largest Big 'Cap field in 19 years — trailing. Pace-setting Western Pride, a 20-1 shot, held on for second, a neck ahead of Kudos.
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Request for Parole wins Battaglia Memorial
