INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 25, 2008) - Sky Cape charged down the middle of the course to score a come-from-behind win under jockey Victor Espinoza in Friday's $77,000 Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park.
The chestnut rallied from seventh at the head of the stretch while covering six furlongs on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:08.49. Two Step Salsa was 1¼ lengths back in second, followed by 2-1 favorite Wine On the Porch and Red Sky Dubai.
Sky Cape, second choice in the field of eight 3-year-olds at 5-2, paid $7, $3.80 and $2.20. Two Step Salsa, with Martin Pedroza aboard, paid $4 and $2.60. The show payoff on Wine On the Porch was $3.
"He veered out at the break, not much just a little," Espinoza said. "At night time you don't know what they're going to do, especially the first time. He was a little green when he first saw the lights but everything was fine after that. The race set up just the way I wanted. Sometimes you just get lucky and everything works out."
Sky Cape, owned by Steve Taub in partnership with trainer Kristin Mulhall's Visionary Racing, won for the third time in 12 starts. The winner's share of $46,230 boosted his earnings to $185,230.
Espinoza rode two winners on the card, also connecting on Irish Ty in the sixth race.
While Sky Cape's victory was not a major surprise, there will be a Pick Six carryover of $98,098 on Saturday at Hollywood Park. Highest payoff in Friday's sequence of Pick Six races was $23.80 by Homemade Brew in the fifth race.
