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Andromeda's star burning brighter

Andromeda's Hero broke through with a first graded win on Saturday (Jim Lisa Photos) Robert V. LaPenta's ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) collared stablemate Seek Gold (Touch Gold) in deep stretch and drew clear for a 1 3/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Fred W. Hooper H. (G3). Runner-up in this year's Belmont S. (G1), the Nick Zito-trained colt ended a nine-race losing drought, notching his first graded win in his final sophomore appearance and gaining valuable momentum for his four-year-old campaign. "This was a good starting point for the (winter) season for both of them," Zito said. "He (Andromeda's Hero) ran a big race in the Clark (H. [G2]) last time out (fourth). You can say 'woulda, coulda, shoulda,' but he did have a bad post (11) and a bad trip (wide) and only got beat four lengths." Zito added that Andromeda's Hero will be pointed to the February 4 Donn H. (G1) along with the runner-up. The third of four stakes on Calder's Grand Slam II program, the Hooper lacked early speed on paper and South American import Grand Canyon (Chi) (Crary), off at 56-1 in his U.S. bow, had little difficulty getting to the front and setting moderate fractions in :24 3/5 and :50 1/5. Seek Gold, racing closer to the pace than customary, sat second during the opening half-mile and advanced to challenge for the lead entering the far turn, with Grand Canyon quickly spitting the bit when confronted. Jockey Rafael Bejarano sat chilly in midpack aboard the eventual winner during the opening stages and began to rapidly pick off horses on the far turn.

Seek Gold opened a 1 1/2-length margin into the stretch, getting six furlongs in 1:15 and a mile in 1:40 2/5, and momentarily loomed a threat to run away from the rest of his rivals, but his entrymate was rallying too strongly. Andromeda's Hero finished 1 1/8 miles over the fast track in 1:53 2/5.

Off at 3-5, the winning entry returned $3.40, $3.40 and $2.20. Seek Gold finished seven lengths clear of third placer Whos Crying Now (Concerto), the near 6-1 fourth choice who gave back $3 for the show and capped the $12.20 exacta. The trifecta, with fourth-place Supervisor (Skip Trial) on the bottom at 9-1, paid $41.20. The 1-2-8-4 superfecta, with Itsawonderfulife (Skip Away) underneath at 40-1, was worth $363.20. Rounding out the order of finish were Dazzling Dr. Cevin (Cutlass Fax), Sir Jackie (Sweetsouthernsaint), Military Major (Rahy) and Grand Canyon. Niigon (Unbridled) and Mister Fotis (Diligence), who captured the seven-furlong Kenny Noe Jr. H. one race earlier, were both scratched from the Hooper.

Out of the winning Storm Bird mare Marozia, Andromeda's Hero's juvenile full brother, Superfly, captured the Whirling Ash S. and finished third in the Champagne S. (G1) and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile S. (G1) for LaPenta and Zito. He also has a weanling half-sister by Lemon Drop Kid. An earner of $578,307 from a 14-3-1-4 line, Andromeda's Hero won the Sam F. Davis S. in late February, and while squaring off against top company in every appearance since, he has also placed in the Arkansas Derby (G2) and Jim Dandy S. (G2).

The $310,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase looks poised for a more successful season at four.

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