by Tim Nichols

After being carefully reserved through a mile by jockey Richard Migliore, Fairbanks cut loose in the final two furlongs to score a 2 ¾-length win in the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course.

Team Valor Stables’ five-year-old Giant’s Causeway horse completed the 1 ¼ miles on a track rated as fast in 2:04.57 as the 7-to-10 favorite for his second straight win.

Fairbanks was rank at the start as Migliore took him under a firm hold in third while Barcola set the pace through six furlongs in 1:13.47 and a mile in 1:39.02.

Migliore loosened the reins at the quarter pole and Fairbanks moved four wide entering the stretch, easily collared Barcola, and surged clear to win comfortably for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Magna Graduate closed from fourth but was no match for Fairbanks and finished second, a neck in front of third-place finisher Wayzata Bay.

Out of the winning Time for a Change mare Alaska Queen, Fairbanks earned his sixth win in 18 starts and boosted his career earnings to $879,768. He is a half brother to Grade 2 winner Keats.

In the $150,000 Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap (G3), Wise River set the pace and fought off a challenge in the final furlong for a one-length win at 15.70-to-1 odds

Wise River dictated the tempo through fractions of :24.32, :48.27, and 1:11.61 for six furlongs as Jungle Fighter stalked from second. Wise River held off challenges from Galantas and Jungle Fighter to secure the victory in 1:35.04 on firm turf.

Galantas finished a neck in front of Jungle Fighter for second, but was disqualified and placed third for interfering with Jungle Fighter, who was elevated to second.

Owned by Don Benge and trained by Clark Hanna, Wise River improved to four wins in 22 starts and increased his earnings to $266,504.

For Equibase charts, click here.

Tim Nichols is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor