Overcoming
a bit of a slow start, Cost of Freedom quickly assumed command and went on to
win the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes Thursday at Hollywood Park.
Giving
trainer John Sadler a record third victory in the Grade III, the 7-year-old
Cee’s Tizzy gelding out of the Moscow Ballet mare Freedom Dance earned his
second stakes win in less than a month for owners Gary and Cecil Barber.
The
1 ¾ length score over 17-1 shot Gato Go Win and four others in the Underwood
came on the heels of a decisive – 6 ¼ lengths – win in the California Cup
Sprint Oct. 30.
Ridden
again by Joe Talamo, Cost of Freedom, the even-money favorite, completed the
six furlongs in 1:08.46. The clocking was the fastest at the distance for the
current meet. It was also the swiftest Underwood since Sailors Sunset won in a
stakes record 1:07.79 in 2006.
Claimed
for $50,000 by Sadler for the Barbers July 28, 2008 at Del Mar, Cost of Freedom now has 10 wins in
20 starts. The $60,000 check he earned Thursday pushed his earnings to
$812,263. Six of the victories, three in graded events, and purses totaling
$661,247 have come in 12 races for his current connections.
The
126 pounds Cost of Freedom carried was the most ever for an Underwood winner.
Paying Dues won under 124 pounds 1996.
Giving
Talamo his second win in the race – the first was aboard Bushwacker in 2007 –
Cost of Freedom paid $4, $3 and $2.40. Gato Go Win, who finished 3 ¾ lengths in
front of Scenic Blast, returned $8.80 and $4.40. The show price on Scenic Blast
was $3.40.
Canonize
was a nose behind Scenic Blast in fourth and he was followed by Square Deal and
2-1 second choice E Z’s Gentleman.
“This
is one of his better tracks,’’ said Sadler after Cost of Freedom won for the
fourth time in eight appearances over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track. “He’s
always run well here. What’s nice is that we’ve had him long enough that he
feels like family, so it’s a good time to win on Thanksgiving.
“I
was a little concerned carrying highweight and he’s an older horse, but he does
so well on this track. Now we’ll probably give him a slight breather or come
back at the end of the meet in the ($75,000-added) On Trust (closing day, Dec.
19).’’