ARCADIA, Calif. – Unhurried while saving ground early, Irish-bred Lincoln Hawk surged late to take Monday’s $69,000 Santa Anita allowance feature by 1 ½ lengths under a hand ride from Juan Hernandez. With the thermometer registering 52 degrees and a light rain falling, Lincoln Hawk, who is trained by Richard Baltas, got a mile and one eighth over a turf course listed as “good” in 1:48.82.
“I know this horse and the key today was that he relaxed pretty well,” said Hernandez, who has now won two out of his three engagements with Lincoln Hawk. “Richie just told me to save ground and make one run and that’s what we did. When I asked him to go, he exploded around the quarter pole and he passed everybody.”
Most recently fourth at the same level going one mile on turf at Del Mar Nov. 27, Lincoln Hawk was off as the 5-2 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up and paid $7.00, $4.00 and $3.00.
Owned by Rockingham Ranch and Supreme Racing, Lincoln Park, a 3-year-old, was gelded just seven days ago on Dec. 20. With the win, he now has two wins in seven stateside starts with Baltas and is 12-2-2-2 overall. With the winner’s share of $41,400, he increased his earnings to $119,698.
Fellow Irish-bred Prince Abama was up to finish second by a nose over pacesetter Appreciated and paid $4.60 and $3.00 as the second choice at 7-2 with Umberto Rispoli.
Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Appreciated finished a nose better over yet another Irish-bred, Li Mu Bai, and paid $3.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 24.37, 48.65, 1:13.12 and 1:37.29.
Racing resumes at Santa Anita with first post time for a nine-race program on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
Santa Anita Press Release
Benoit Photograph
