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The Pizza Man comes through again in American St. Leger

The Pizza Man has really come on this summer (Four Footed Fotos) Stretching his win streak to five, Illinois-bred The Pizza Man recorded the biggest score of his career in Saturday's $400,000 American St. Leger, rolling to a one-length decision over the classy Dandino. With Florent Geroux up, the five-year-old gelding took over the lead on the final turn and accelerated away from his foes entering the stretch drive. The Roger Breuggemann-trained winner was not seriously threatened to the wire, completing the 1 11/16-mile event in a course record 2:47 3/5. Contested for the third year, the American St. Leger served as the first of four turf stakes on the Arlington International Festival of Racing program. Owned and bred by Midwest Thoroughbred, The Pizza Man paid $12.60 to win as the 5-1 fourth choice among 10 runners. Big Kick showed the way early in the three-turn affair, opening a 2 1/2-length advantage through a half-mile in :49. The pacesetter increased his advantage down the backstretch, leading by five lengths after a mile in 1:37 4/5, but he suddenly stopped rounding the final turn.

The Pizza Man, who led wire to wire winning the local prep for this race, July 12 Stars and Stripes, stalked the front-runner in second from the break and moved to fore with a head of stream nearing the completion of the far turn.

He quickly drew clear entering the straightaway, reaching midstretch with a 3 1/2-length advantage, and easily held sway to the wire. Dandino, last year's American St. Leger winner, rallied from midpack to second by the top of the stretch and belatedly reduced the deficit as he finished up well.

"I was sitting in a stalking position, I wasn't worried, I saw his past races and was waiting for him to tell me when to go," Geroux said of his trip.

It was another 1 1/4-length margin to the late-running Havana Beat, who wound up a half-length better than the tough-luck Moment in Time, who was stopped repeatedly before gaining fourth.

Next under the wire came Eye of the Storm, Admiral Kitten, Moro Tap, Infinite Magic, Suntracer and Big Kick. Hardest Core was withdrawn.

Now eight for 11 on Arlington's turf, The Pizza Man has dropped only five starts in entire career, posting a 12-1-1 mark from 17 starts. He's earned $730,203.

The Pizza Man has won a total of eight stakes. His first two black-type successes came over state-bred foes in the Texas Zing and Buck's Boy near the end of 2012. He started his current win streak with a victory in the restricted Illinois Owners last September and concluded 2013 with a triumph in the open Robert. F. Carey Memorial.

The improving bay came back this year in the June 21 Black Tie Affair for Illinois-breds, prevailing by a head, and he recorded a half-length decision in the aforementioned Stars N Stripes.

By 2007 champion turf horse English Channel, The Pizza Man is out of the stakes-placed Lear Fan mare I Can Fan Fan. She hails from multiple stakes queen Flower Circle, a daughter of Lieutenant's Lark who earned $261,631.

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