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Dark Islander too good for Oak Tree foes Donald M. Kerr's DARK ISLANDER (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) moved to the fore turning for home and cruised home a facile 1 1/4-length winner of the $150,000 Oak Tree Derby (G2) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Making his U.S. debut for trainer John Hills, the bay colt rated in midpack for much of the contest before unleashing his potent turn of foot on the far turn, leaving no doubt as to who was best on this occasion. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf was 1:46 1/5, and the winner gave back $8.80, $4.60 and $2.60 as the 3-1 third choice. Obrigado (Fr) (Enrique) was last after six furlongs and made a solid late run without threatening the winner to earn the place. The 8-5 second choice was good for $3 and $2.40 while completing the $14 exacta ($1). A. P. Warrior (A.P. Indy), the 6-5 favorite, closed mildly to get third but never threatened the top two. Show paid $2.20, and the trifecta gave back $29.50 ($1). Icy Ridge (Ire) (Orpen) fell a half-length shy of a black-type placing in fourth and was trailed by Potential (General Royal) and pacesetter Refinery (Victory Gallop), who had set the early fractions of :23 1/5, :47 2/5 and 1:11. Dark Islander captured his second consecutive start in upping his career mark to 11-4-1-2, with earnings of $178,352. Bred in Ireland by Addison Racing Ltd. Inc. he was sold as a weanling for $43,000 at the 2003 Tattersalls December Sale. Dark Islander was produced from the winning Lamanka Lass (Woodman), who is also the dam of the unraced two-year-old colt Lass Prince (Desert Prince [Ire]).
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