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Bourbon Bay barrels home in San Luis Obispo
Drysdale's other runner, Obrigado (Fr) (Enrique), checked in fifth, trailed by Porfido (Chi) (Mash One [Chi]); 2-1 favorite Dynamic Range (Dynaformer), who was a ground-saving third early before giving way; and Sir Dave (Untuttable). Troubletimesthree (Decarchy) was scratched. "I was in a great position to the first turn," Bejarano recapped. "I thought there were two horses with speed, the number eight (Sudden War) and the number nine (Porfido). When we broke from the gate, they took hold of the nine and sent the eight, so I was able to cover my horse up and stay nice and relaxed until the half-mile pole and then I asked him. "With the fractions we had, you have to have a lot of horse (to catch the pacesetter), but when you're on the best horse, it makes it easy. My horse has a really good turn of foot in the stretch." Bourbon Bay's first career stakes victory advanced his mark to 11-3-2-2 while increasing his bankroll to $209,424. As a juvenile for former trainer Lowell Stevens, he finished second in the 2008 Cradle S. Bourbon Bay was then privately purchased and transferred to Drysdale. He dead-heated for third in the Generous S. (G3) in his second start for his new barn, and next time out rallied for fourth in the 2009 Sham S. (G3) on the Pro-Ride. Bourbon Bay was subsequently sidelined for almost seven months, returning in September, and he finally got back on the winning track with a 3 1/2-length allowance/optional claming score on January 6. "When we purchased him, we purchased him with the idea that he'd be a mile and a half horse, so he's lived up to it to date," Drysdale said. "He won well the other day (in his first attempt at the distance), so it's good. It looks like he's improving. He had a lot of mucus and allergy problems as a three-year-old, but he seems fine now." Bred by Adena Springs in Kentucky, Bourbon Bay was a bargain $1,700 Keeneland September yearling purchase. He is a half-brother to Ginger Brew (Milwaukee Brew), Canada's champion three-year-old filly of 2008, as well as stakes victor Booyah (Running Stag). All were produced by the winning Conquistador Cielo mare Coral Necklace, who comes from the family of Illinois Derby (G2) winner and Belmont S. (G1) runner-up Vision and Verse (Storm Cat). Bourbon Bay's fourth dam is Bebopper (Tom Fool), the dam of multiple Grade 1 star Hatchet Man (The Axe II) and brilliant Grade 2 hero Stop the Music (Hail to Reason), both noted sires. Also descending from this line is champion three-year-old filly Yanks Music (Air Forbes One), successful in the 1996 Alabama S. (G1), Mother Goose S. (G1), Beldame S. (G1) and Ruffian H. (G1).
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