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Cat pounces in Hanshin Cup Jim Tafel LLC's homebred CORAGIL CAT (Forest Wildcat) raced next to last in the early going of Saturday's $100,000 Hanshin Cup H. (G3) at Arlington Park but was in front at the wire when it mattered, registering a three-length victory under jockey Diego Sanchez. The Greg Geier-trained four-year-old was sent off the 11-1 third longest shot in the eight-horse field and paid $24.20, $10.40 and $5.60 to his loyal backers. "He's trained excellently since his last race so we decided to run and give him a chance here," Geier explained. "He turned it around here a bit last year with seconds and thirds. He really got good the last month (of the meet) at the Fair Grounds and it continued up here." "I had a lot of confidence the last time I rode him and more confidence today," Sanchez said. "He's a slow horse in the mornings and he's a different horse in the afternoon." Defending champion Spotsgone (Bright Launch) moved to the front when the gates opened, setting splits of :22 4/5 and :45 2/5, but was pressed the entire time by Stonehouse (Chester House) and Steve's Double (Stephen Got Even). Entering the final turn, the quick pace had taken its toll on Spotsgone, who couldn't hold off a rallying Coragil Cat. The eventual winner overhauled the front runners, posting seven furlongs in a quick 1:21 4/5 and going on to finish a mile on the Polytrack in 1:34 4/5. Morada Key (Carson City) was six wide in the lane to take second by two lengths over Steve's Double, returning $28.60 and $12.40 as the 39-1 longest shot on the board and ending the $451 exacta. Steve's Double managed to finish best of the early leaders, giving back $6.20 at 8-1 and completing the nice $4,364.60 trifecta. Lovango (Capote), who held the lead through six furlongs in 1:09 2/5, was another 1 1/2 lengths back in fourth to finish the profitable $14,667.60 superfecta (6-7-4-8). Throng (Silver Deputy) followed the top four under the line, with Fort Prado (El Prado [Ire]), Stonehouse and Spotsgone completing the order of finish. Coragil Cat now owns three straight wins, taking an allowance/optional claimer at Fair Grounds prior to capturing just his second stakes try in the Timeless Native S. last out. Now owning a 22-4-2-5 career mark, the dark bay colt has accumulated $170,075 in lifetime earnings. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old is out of stakes-placed Coragil (Metfield), who's first registered foal was 2002 Churchill Downs Distaff H. (G2) heroine Softly (Binalong). Coragil Cat is her only other stakes winner, and she has since foaled an unnamed Songandaprayer yearling filly.
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