| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Bluesthestandard wins $134,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita
Saturday March 29, 2003ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) Bluesthestandard, with Mike Smith, stalked the leaders to the halfway marker to win the $134,000 Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap by two lengths Saturday at Santa Anita Park. It was his first stakes victory.
Joey Franco, and Gary Stevens, finished second a half-length in front of $2.2 million earning Kona Gold (14 wins in 20 starts), and Corey Nakatani, in a field of seven 4-year-olds and up.
The 6-year-old Georgia-bred winner covered 6{ furlongs of a track rated fast in 1:14 4-5 to win $72,000 for his 13th win in 20 starts, most of them at claiming races. The gelding's career earnings stand at $320,410. Bluesthestandard paid $6.40, $4 and $2.80.
``I stayed a little busy on him down the lane because he was looking all around,'' Smith said. ``I have so much respect for Kona Gold and I know he can come flying by at any time.''
Kona Gold, paying $2.80 to show, came wide into the stretch. Joey Franco returned $15.60 and $4.80.
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