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Surf Cat seals the deal in LeRoy Marsha Naify and Aase Headley's SURF CAT (Sir Cat) shifted outside at the top of the lane and wore down pacesetter Desert Code (E Dubai) to annex the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2) over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park on Saturday. Trained by Bruce Headley, the superb six-year-old finished off 1 1/16 miles in 1:41 under Alex Solis, and rewarded backers with mutuels of $7.20, $4.60 and $3.80 as the 5-2 second choice. Desert Code went to the front soon after the start but had company throughout his journey, being pressed by Buzzards Bay (Marco Bay), as he went in a snappy 1:09 1/5 for the opening six panels. The early leader dispatched his nuisance nearing the far turn but had a new shooter in Global Hunter (Arg) (Jade Hunter), who had all of the momentum on the outside. All the while, Surf Cat rated in fourth while saving ground, waiting to pounce in the lane. Desert Code held off Global Hunter and stayed on bravely to the wire, but he had no answer for the surging Surf Cat, who bested him by a half-length on the line. The runner-up went postward at nearly 24-1 and paid $20 and $12.20 while completing the $64.40 exacta ($1). Global Hunter, at 18-1, got third to finish off the $755.30 trifecta ($1). Show was worth $9.20. Neko Bay (Giant's Causeway) closed from well back to cap the $3,628.30 superfecta ($1) (3-6-1-8) as the nearly 9-2 third choice. Buzzards Bay was 2 1/4 lengths farther back and trailed by 6-5 favorite Monzante (Maria's Mon), Zappa (Afternoon Deelites) and Fly Dorcego (Brz) (Choctaw Ridge). Giant Gizmo (Giant's Causeway) and Mr Napper Tandy (GB) (Bahamian Bounty) were withdrawn. Surf Cat piles on to his impressive resume by taking this race for the second time, his first coming in 2006. The Kentucky-bred boasts $925,420 in earnings from a stellar 18-9-6-1 line. This marks his sixth graded conquer, preceded by triumphs in the Swaps S. (G2), the 2006 and 2008 runnings of the San Carlos H. (G2), his previous LeRoy win, and the 2006 Potrero Grande H. (G2). Bred by William Taylor Nicholls and Gainesway Farm, Surf Cat is out of the winning Centrust mare Trust Greta, making him a half-brother to Grade 3 victress Rosie O'Greta (Fight Over), and a yearling colt named Surf King (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]). After bringing $25,000 at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Yearling Sale, Surf Cat RNA'ed for $45,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Yearling Sale.
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