DEL MAR, Calif. -- Heavy favorite Aragorn, a 4-year-old colt
from the barn of Neil Drysdale, rallied past long shot Wild Buddy
in the final yards for a 1½-length victory Saturday in the $400,000
Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Trapped along the rail in third for most of the race, Aragorn
and jockey Corey Nakatani found an opening inside the pacesetting
Wild Buddy and darted through for the win, covering one mile on the
turf in 1:32 3-5.
Aragorn paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Wild Buddy paid $6.60 and
$3. Hendrix was a head back in third and paid $3.20 to show.
The win may make Aragorn the favorite in October's Breeders' Cup
Mile.
Since making his American debut a year ago, the Irish-bred colt
has had four wins -- all stakes -- and three seconds in seven starts.
He won just once in five races in Europe.