Both divisions of the Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar go to Midnight Crooner and My Best Brother
Midnight Crooner and My Best Brother opened the annual meet at Del Mar in a grand fashion, as they notched victories in the divisions of the 1 mile Oceanside Stakes on 18th July, 2012.
In the first division of the race, Bob Baffert’s charge, Midnight Crooner, stole the show and completed the race in 1 minute and 34.74 under the guidance of rider Rafael Bejarano.
The duo managed to claim the victory by a near negligible margin of a nose, over Chips All In, while the John Sadler trained, Koast finished in the third spot.
Chips All In, mounted by Alonso Quinonez, managed to lead after six furlongs after overtaking, Canuletmedowneasy, who was the early pace-setter.
The son of North Light, out of mare Maria's Mirage, led by a length in the mid-stretch when he was challenged by Midnight Crooner, who took the lead and maintained it until the end.
The winning jockey was immensely pleased with the way the race went as he told the press that:
"I had a beautiful trip today. I followed (Chips All In) all the way around.”
In the second division of the Oceanside Stakes, it was the Julio C. Canani trained, My Best Brother, who managed to finish on top of the pile.
The colt was the pacesetter for this race and, had the aim to win as soon as he broke from his gate.
Mounted by Martin Garcia, the son of Stormy Atlantic kept the competition at bay and maintained a safe distance from Tones, who finished as a runner-up by a margin of Half-length.
Third place was secured by Old Time Hockey, who was coupled with rider Julien Leparoux.
Courtesy of his swiftness, he completed the 1 mile race in 1 minute and 34.39 seconds. He completed the first quarter in 22.94 seconds, half-mile in 46.75 seconds and six furlongs in 1 minute and 10.61 seconds.
With this victory, Midnight Crooner, owned by Arnold Zetcher, is now on a hat-trick, since this was his second consecutive win.
The Alvin Eisman owned My Best Brother, completed his hat-trick as he won the Maiden Special Weight and Allowance Optional Claiming at Betfair Hollywood Park prior to this.
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