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El Roblar rallies for Ack Ack Stonestreet Stables' EL ROBLAR (War Chant) rated in third early before launching his bid three wide on the far turn, rallying to the lead at the top of the stretch and pulling clear to a two-length victory in Saturday's $109,700 Ack Ack H. (G3) at Hollywood Park. Trained by Richard Mandella, the five-year-old horse notched his first graded win, moving his overall mark to 12-5-1-2, $299,946, and returned $5.40, $3.40 and $3 as the 8-5 favorite. The dark bay covered 7 1/2 furlongs over the Cushion Track in 1:28 2/5. Tag the Comet (Comet Shine) broke running and quickly opened up a sizable advantage while establishing early splits in :22 2/5 and :45, with El Roblar nearly eight lengths back through the opening half-mile. The pack began to catch up to the pacesetter on the far turn, but El Roblar was clearly going best under Victor Espinoza and stormed to the front, getting six furlongs in 1:09 3/5 and seven-eighths in 1:21 4/5. Siren Lure (Joyeux Danseur), the 5-2 second choice, edged Publication (Petionville) in deep stretch for second and gave back $3.60 and $3. Publication was worth $4.20 at 12-1. The $1 gimmicks paid $9.30 (exacta), $52.60 (trifecta) and $259.30 for the 8-5-3-4 superfecta, which was rounded out by the 8-1 Soul City Slew (Slew City Slew). Next under the wire came Bonfante (Fruition), Porto Santo (Fr) (Kingsalsa), Tag the Comet and Cusoon (GB) (Dansili [GB]). El Roblar is out of the Grade 2-winning Screamer (Roanoke) and has a yearling half-brother by Fusaichi Pegasus. Bred in Kentucky by Donald and Mary Zuckerman, he was purchased for $250,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September sale. El Roblar captured a division of the 2005 Oceanport S. and entered the Ack Ack off a good effort in the Arcadia H. (G2), finishing second by a head. He also placed third earlier this season in the San Antonio H. (G2) and filled that same spot in the 2005 La Jolla H. (G2).
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