To view a video replay of the Ancient Title, click here.

by Mike Curry

With one visually impressive, sustained closing bid in the $300,000 Ancient Title Stakes (G1), Gayego formally put the rest of the sprint division on notice Sunday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.

While freaky-fast three-time Grade 1 winner Zensational is firmly entrenched as the probable favorite for the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Gayego solidified his credentials as a strong threat with a clear Ancient Title victory. Gayego’s late-running style could also set up perfectly for the Sprint, with plenty of early speed almost a certainty when the top sprinters meet at the Breeders’ Cup on November 7.

Godolphin Racing’s four-year-old Gilded Time colt was reserved near the back of the ten-horse field for the Ancient Title, rallied four wide into the stretch, and accelerated willingly when roused by Garrett Gomez. He overhauled eight opponents in the final quarter-mile and powered free to a 1 1/4-length score as the 6-to-5 favorite.

"These guys know their horses,” Gomez said of trainer Saeed bin Suroor and the Godolphin Racing team. “I wasn't surprised that he settled as well as he did because they said he would.

“They told me to just take my time with him and get him up under me and he'd come home no problem. I just didn't know how much of a turn of foot he'd have, but he answered that question."

Gayego completed six furlongs in 1:08.28 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface, the same track and distance as the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 27 days. The Ancient Title win guaranteed Gayego a spot in the Sprint as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.

Earlier this season, Gayego acquitted himself nicely against some of the world’s top sprinters-milers in Dubai, winning the Dayjur Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-G3) and finishing second in the Etisalat Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2). As a three-year-old he set a 6 1/2-furlong track record at Hollywood Park while winning the 2008 San Pedro Stakes and subsequently won a major classic prep race when he captured the Arkansas Derby (G2).

Gayego improved to seven wins and three seconds in 13 starts and boosted his bankroll to $1,299,620 with the Ancient Title victory. He is out of the stakes-winning Lost Code mare Devils Lake.

"The race went as I expected,” Suroor said. “Before the race I told the jockey to make a wide move. I told him it depends on how fast they go, but if he could get him in a good position, it would be great for him. … He handled the surface here very well. Now, we'll take him to the Breeders' Cup Sprint."

Crown of Thorns launched his bid from the inside and finished strongly for second, a half-length in front of Delta Storm. Cost of Freedom, winner of the 2008 Ancient Title, finished another three-quarters of a length back in fourth in the ten-horse field.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor