NEWS
On the Acorn wins Jim Murray Memorial by a nose
Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2008 6:49 PM
ON THE ACORN
Benoit & Associates photo
by Jenny Blandford
Indizguys Stable’s On the Acorn (GB) won the $245,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (G2) for the second consecutive year on Saturday at Hollywood Park with a come-from-behind run to edge 2-to-5 favorite Champs Elysees (GB) by a nose.
Boule d’Or (Ire), with a rank Sudan (Ire) close-up in second, led the four-horse field through the opening quarter in :24.69 and a half-mile in :48.02 as On the Acorn and Champs Elysees relaxed off the pace.
As the four-horse field turned for home, Champs Elysees unleashed a determined bid under Ramon Dominguez and gained command while jockey Brice Blanc rallied On the Acorn and bid outside that foe.
After a prolonged stretch duel, On the Acorn prevailed over Champs Elysees by a head bob as the 9.80-to-1 third choice. He completed the distance in 2:27.36 on a firm turf course to earn his first win in four starts this season.
Sudan finished six lengths behind Champs Elysees in third with Boule d’Or fading to finish last.
Trained by Mike Mitchell, On the Acorn closed last season with a half-length victory in the Jim Murray Memorial after earning his first graded stakes win in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (G2). The Inchinor (GB) gelding entered the Jim Murray Memorial off a fourth-place finish in this year’s San Juan Capistrano on April 20 at Santa Anita Park.
Out of the winning Suave Dancer mare Amarice, On the Acorn improved to eight wins in 32 career starts and earnings of $743,812.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Jenny Blandford is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor
