NEWS
Bim Bam outfinishes Interactif to win Hallandale Beach
Posted: Sunday, February 07, 2010 6:00 PM
BIM BAM (inside) BATTLES INTERACTIF AT GULFSTREAM
Coglianese Photos
To view the Hallandale Beach Stakes, click here.
by Mike Curry
Multiple graded stakes winner Interactif took charge in the stretch of the $125,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes on Sunday at Gulfstream Park but pacesetter Bim Bam battled back gamely in the final strides to nip the 4-to-5 favorite by a nose at the finish line.
Bim Bam entered off a runner-up finish, beaten by a neck by Nordic Truce, in the Dania Beach Stakes on January 16 at Gulfstream. The multiple stakes winner would not be denied on Sunday, however, outfinishing Interactif to prevail under Eibar Coa.
“When the other horse [Interactif] went by, I knew my horse was going to try, so I kept riding and digging because I knew he could come back, and he did,” Coa said.
The Deputy Wild Cat colt completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.07 on firm turf. Out of the stakes-placed winning Colony Light mare Laurel Light, Bim Bam improved to four wins from nine starts and boosted his earnings to $296,295.
Trained by David Brownlee for owner-breeder J D Farms, Bim Bam won the Foolish Pleasure Stakes on the main track on September 26 and the Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile Turf Stakes on the turf on November 14, both at Calder Race Course. He went right to the lead in the Hallandale Beach and set an easy pace through a half-mile in :49.91 and six furlongs in 1:14.11.
Interactif stalked from second under Kent Desormeaux and accelerated when called upon entering the stretch. Interactif steadily charged past Bim Bam from the outside but the determined pacesetter would not back down and eked out the win with one final surge.
“It didn’t look like there was much speed in the race, so our plan going in was to go to the lead and hope to slow it down, which is the way it went,” Brownlee said. “We know he’ll fight back like he did the last time [in the Dania Beach] and they went [in] 1:08 [for six furlongs] in that race. We’re going to stick to turf with him and he’ll come back in the Palm Beach [Stakes (G3) on March 6].”
Interactif, winner of the Bourbon Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Race Course and the With Anticipation Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course as a two-year-old, settled for second in his season debut.
“Was it the trip I wanted? Yes. It went very well,” Desormeaux said. “But I’m shocked. I didn’t think I could get beat from the quarter pole.”
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
