Hawthorne Racecourse (4/17/10)
Contact: Jim Miller
(708) 780-3700
LIFE AT TEN TAKES 34RD RUNNING OF THE GRADE III SIXTY SAILS HANDICAP
STICKNEY, IL – On paper, the Grade III $200,000 Guaranteed Sixty Sails Handicap looked like it was going to be a competitive race, and it was. However, it turned out to be competitive between only two horses.
When possible pacesetter Fighter Wing got off to a poor start in this nine-furlong event, favored Jessica Is Back gained the immediate and somewhat easy lead and was able to control the pace. However, Cynthia DeBartolo’s Life At Ten had that rival in clear sight and, although she raced a couple of lengths back early, she was well within herself and her rider was confident.
“This was the first time I rode her,” said winning rider Michael Baze, who will be riding in Chicago for the summer. “Mr. Pletcher (trainer Todd Pletcher) said to let the horse break and get good position. We had a stalking spot. I knew the other (Jessica Is Back) had speed and she would go. It went the way I had hoped. It worked out great.”
After modest fractions of :24.41, :49.06, 1:13.72, and 1:38.23, Jessica Is Back still held a length-and-a-half lead but was under a drive to hold it. At the eighth pole, that lead had diminished to a head.
“Coming out of the turn I looked underneath a little bit just to make sure nobody was coming. I was pretty sure that I was going to get the leader. I was just hoping nobody was coming. They weren’t.”
At the wire, Life At Ten was a length clear of Jessica Is Back and it was another three-and-a-quarter lengths back to Miss Singhsix who, like Jessica Is Back, is trained by Martin Wolfson.
Elvis Trujillo, rider of beaten favorite Jessica Is Back: "No excuses, it was an even pace. I think she didn't like having that horse (winner Life at Ten) on her outside like that, it intimidated her a little."
Eusebio Razo, who rode third-place finisher Miss Singhsix (Ire): "I thought she had a good shot, but there just wasn't enough pace for her."
They covered the mile and an eighth distance in 1:51.02.
Life At Ten earned $120,000 for the victory, boosting her career earnings to $309,267.
Life At Ten paid, $7.60, $3.60, and $3.20. Jessica Is Back returned $3.40 and $2.60, while Miss Singhsix paid $3.40 to show.
Hawthorne Race Course is in its 101st year of racing under Carey family ownership. Hawthorne races Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday – Sunday with a first post of 1:35 pm daily through April 25. For more information on racing at Hawthorne, visit our website at www.Hawthorneracecourse.com.
