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  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Tribal Rule sire of Italian Rules 1st Alw (May 24, 7th BHP). Owner, Barber, Gary and Cecil; Breeder, Nick Cafarchia...
  • Canadian Frontier sire of Golden Frontier 1st Alw (May 24, 3rd CD). Owner, George Fister; Breeder, Brereton C. Jones...
  • Benchmark sire of Planet Sunshine 1st Alw (May 24, 5th GG). Owner, Thomas A. Shapiro; Breeder, Thomas Shapiro...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Chapel Royal sire of Mr Rodriguez 1st Mdn (May 24, 2nd BEL). Owner, Imperio, Michael and Loftus, Elizabeth; Breeder, Jill Imperio & Daniella Corian...
  • Smoke Glacken sire of Walker Bay 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CD). Owner, Hammersmith, Dennis L. and Paden Racing, Inc.; Breeder, Brian O'Rourke & Derry Meeting Farm...
  • Holy Bull sire of Catalan 1st Alw (May 24, 8th BEL). Owner, Elizabeth Loftus; Breeder, B. P. Walden & Dr. S. Marcum...
  • Latent Heat sire of Heated Troubles 1st Mdn (May 24, 5th RD). Owner, Ashleigh Stud; Breeder, Ashleigh Stud, Frank Ramos & JackieRamos...
  • Successful Appeal sire of Warning Song 1st Alw (May 24, 6th PRM). Owner, Maggi Moss; Breeder, Bloodstock Holdings LLC...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Arch sire of Wiki 1st Alw (May 24, 2nd PID). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Stuart S. Janney, III LLC....
  • Wando sire of Deb's Girly Girl 1st Alw (May 24, 6th RD). Owner, Deborah F. Metz; Breeder, Deborah F. Metz...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...
  • Flower Alley sire of Bouquet Booth 1st Alw (May 24, 7th CD). Owner, Right Time Racing LLC; Breeder, Brookdale & Dr. Ted Folkerth...
  • First Samurai sire of Nakano 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CRC). Owner, Thoroughbred Futures Racing; Breeder, Hubert Vester...

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Air Commander prevails by a nose in San Fernando

Posted: Saturday, January 12, 2008 9:07 PM

AIR COMMANDER (outside)

by Jeff Apel

Air Commander narrowly prevailed after an intense stretch duel with Grade 1 winner Johnny Eves to win the $200,000 San Fernando Stakes (G2) by a nose at 52.40-to-1 odds on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Gaining command on the turn, Air Commander opened a half-length lead against Johnny Eves in early stretch. The duo matched strides throughout nearly the entire stretch, with Air Commander earning his first career stakes win under jockey Aaron Gryder.

Johnny Eves set a determined inside pace in the 1 1/16-mile race and led by two lengths through a half-mile in :46.38. Air Commander closed within one length of the lead through six furlongs in 1:10.04, and seized command from two wide approaching the stretch.

Air Commander, positioned on the outside of Johnny Eves in the stretch, dug in with determination and gamely prevailed in 1:40.16 on Santa Anita’s synthetic Cushion Track surface.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Tiago, the third-place finisher in the 2007 Belmont Stakes (G1), was third as the 7-to-5 favorite in the field of 11 four-year-olds, 1 1/4 lengths behind Johnny Eves.

Air Commander, trained by Bob Baffert for Robert Clay and Faisal Salman, entered off a fourth-place finish in an allowance race on December 6 at Hollywood Park. The Point Given colt previously finished second in the 2007 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita.

Air Commander earned his third win in eight starts and increased his earnings to $248,680. Bred in Kentucky, Air Commander is a half brother to Grade 2 winner Medallist and is out of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Santaria, by Star de Naskra.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor

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