SIGHTSEEK-ANOTHER GRADE 1 VICTORY
Sightseek (Distant View out of Viviana by
Nureyev) defeated three Grade 1 winners, including 2002 Horse of
the Year Azeri and 2002 Champion two-year-old filly Storm Flag
Flying in the Gr.1 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park.
Sightseek and jockey Jerry Bailey teamed to win the 1 1/16-mile
Ogden Phipps for the second straight year, and the five-year-old
mare remained unbeaten in four career starts at Belmont, including
three Grade 1 victories.
Sightseek stalked pacesetter Azeri through a half-mile in :45.73
before she collared the two-time champion older mare late in the
turn and spurted away to a six-length lead entering the stretch.
Sightseek cruised to the wire under a hand ride to win by 3 ¼
lengths in 1:41.46 over a fast track.
“I thought Azeri would get the easy lead, but [Sightseek] hooked
her all the way,” said winning trainer Bobby Frankel. “She loves
this racetrack. Last year she did the same thing: [Bailey] just put
her up there right off the leader. I didn’t know she had Azeri
until just before the quarter pole. It’s a great win.”
Bailey said, “Azeri threw in the towel leaving the 3/8-pole and
left me on the lead. [Sightseek] was in command at every
pole.”
Date:
21 June 2004