After a thrilling duel
through the stretch on the inner turf, Baltimore Bob prevailed by a head over
favorite Vanquisher to take the $50,000 Da Hoss Stakes on Saturday at Colonial
Downs.
Ridden by Vladimir Diaz,
Baltimore Bob settled behind three wide in the early going, advancing as he
neared the lane before battling with Frisky Thunder past the sixteenth marker.
Favorite Vanquisher, ridden by Rosemary Homeister, Jr., swung wide past the
three sixteenths marker and finished with a flourish to just miss by a head.
Frisky Thunder was third. Diaz, who has ridden this horse in his last three
races, noted “JB told me he was a nice horse and he wasn’t wrong about that.”
Trainer John Secor, who also
saw success with Baltimore Bob in Pimlico’s Henry Clark Stakes in April, is
particularly high on the horse. “I’m extremely satisfied with this one,” he
stated. “Any trainer that has their trainer’s license would love to have this
horse in the barn.”
Rounding out the Da Hoss
field were Pick Six, Target Sighted, Hasta Luego, Rockaby Bay,
Olympic Chief, Sarto, and Despite the Odds, who was eased late.