Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, fresh off victory in Saturday’s Grade II
San Carlos Stakes, fitted veteran gelding
Ain’t No Other with blinkers
for the first time and the result was a three quarter length victory in
Sunday’s $100,000 Sensational Stakes for older horses bred in California
at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course. The
5-year-old son of Old Topper negotiated the course in 1:11.53.
“I worked him in blinkers and he worked really well,” said
Hollendorfer assistant Dan Ward. “He didn’t try to lug in. He didn’t
try to wait on horses, he just went on.”
Off as second choice in the eight-horse field at 9-2,
Ain’t No Other sat third early, four lengths behind pacesetting
longshot Coach Bob and Victor Espinoza. With fractions of 21.24, 43.05
and 1:05.50, the Sensational Star set up for horses coming from behind.
As the field approached the dirt crossing at the top of the
lane, Bejarano split horses and made the lead in mid stretch, and then
held off a fast finishing Starspangled Heat and Corey Nakatani, who was
flying at the rail.
“Today he showed me a lot of speed from the gate, but I didn’t
want to be on the lead, so I let the speed go a little bit,” said
Bejarano. “I found my position quickly though. He wore blinkers and he
showed me a big kick today.”
Owned and bred by Tom and Debi Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds
LLC, Ain’t No Other paid $11.40, $6.00 and $4.00. With the winner’s
share of $60,000, Ain’t No Other increased his earnings to $434,973.
His record now stands at 24-8-6-6.
With today’s victory, Bejarano has now won with 10 of 17 mounts
for Hollendorfer at the current meet and Hollendorfer, currently third
in the trainer standings with 19 wins overall, is a near-perfect four
for five with Tommy Town starters.