by Jeff Apel

Multiple graded stakes winner Whatsthescript (Ire) overtook pacesetter Storm Military (Arg) approaching the finish and posted a 1 1/4-length win in the $250,000 American Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Hollywood Park in his first start for trainer John Sadler.

Doug O’Neill previously trained Whatsthescript, who entered off an unplaced finish in the Sir Beaufort Stakes (G3) on December 26 at Santa Anita Park. The Royal Applause (GB) colt earned his first graded stakes win for trainer Manuel Marques in the 2006 Generous Stakes (G3) at Hollywood.

Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’s Whatsthescript, the longest shot in the seven-horse field at 29.10-to-1, was content to race in sixth as Storm Military maintained a head lead against Grade 1 winner and 7-to-10 favorite Daytona (Ire) through a half-mile in :47.28 and six furlongs in 1:10.60.

Whatsthescript and jockey Isaias Enriquez awaited running room near the quarter pole and moved up to fourth in early stretch, 2 1/2 lengths behind Storm Military. Rallying between foes near midstretch, Whatsthescript seized command on the outside of Storm Military and won the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:46.34 on turf rated as firm.

Stakes winner Storm Military finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher and Grade 1-placed Hyperbaric. Daytona faded to sixth in a field of seven.

Whatsthescript posted his fifth win in ten starts and increased his earnings to $337,734. Bred by C. Mac Hale and J. Hyland, the colt is out of the Lion Cavern mare Grizel.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor