NEWS
Digger digs in for Gravesend victory
Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2009 4:08 PM
DIGGER (inside, blue blinkers) EDGES PASHITO THE CHE
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
To view a video replay of the Gravesend Handicap, click here.
by Ron Parker
Repole Stable’s Digger led the way in the $69,550 Gravesend Handicap on a rainy Saturday at Aqueduct and held off the late surge of 3-to-5 favorite Pashito the Che for a nose victory.
“There wasn’t too much speed in there,” winning jockey Rosie Napravnik said. “I knew Eibar Coa [aboard Pashito the Che] was going to have some horse and that it would go all the way to the wire.”
A five-year-old Yonaguska gelding, Digger covered six furlongs in 1:11.66 on track rated as fast for his fourth career stakes victory.
“He’s always in front, so the last part of the race is always a question mark,” winning trainer Bruce Brown said. “He makes you sweat, no doubt about it. But he loves [Aqueduct’s] inner track, even more so today with the moisture in it.”
Pashito the Che was a length clear of third-place finisher Starforaday in the seven-horse field.
Out of the Dehere mare Da Choice, Maryland-bred Digger won his 12th race from 31 starts and increased his earnings to $413,278.
“I really haven’t looked ahead, but he’ll be staying here through the winter,” Brown said.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
