Heavy rain earlier in the week had produced a yielding turf causing
two of the six entries (including likely favorite Wend) to scratch. The
finish of this four horse race was as exciting as it gets. Pommes Frites
and Cornelio Velasquez went to an early and large lead in moderate
fractions. As the field turned for home Gorella and Julien Leparoux
began closing ground with every stride, catching the front runner right
at the line. Gorella, a four-year-old French bred chestnut filly, got
nosed by Leroidesanimaux to finish third in last year's Breeders' Cup
mile. She is trained by Patrick Biancone.
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