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Bordonaro successfully defends Count Fleet title Fred Carrillo and Daniel A. Cassella's homebred BORDONARO (Memo [Chi]) invaded Oaklawn Park on Friday and came away with his second straight trophy in the $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint S. (G3). Based at Santa Anita with trainer Bill Spawr, the chestnut gelding was originally entered in last Saturday's Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup H. (G2) at his home base, but Spawr opted to scratch when he drew the rail. Bordonaro was then re-routed to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a title defense, and he handsomely rewarded that decision with a front-running score. The 2-5 favorite returned $2.80, $2.40 and $2.20 while spearheading exotics worth $9.20 (exacta) and $40 (5-2-6 trifecta). Shouldering the top weight of 121 pounds, Bordonaro shot to the early lead and was pressed throughout as he reeled off splits of :22 and :45 1/5. After jockey Richard Migliore took a quick peek back over his shoulder leaving the far turn, his mount showed no signs of slacking. He kept up his torrid pace through five-eighths in :57, by which point he had run most of his opponents off their feet. Only Semaphore Man (Formal Gold) tried to challenge in deep stretch, but his gritty effort along the rail carried him no closer than a half-length at the line. The winner finished six furlongs on the fast track in 1:09. Semaphore Man paid $3.80 and $3 as the 5-1 second choice. The 13-1 Off Duty (Yes It's True) stalked the pace on the outside and closed for third, giving back $4 for checking in another 1 1/2 lengths back. Next came Junior College (Ide), who retreated after challenging Bordonaro on the turn, trailed by Mach Ride (Pentelicus) and Rodeo's Castle (Rodeo). Bordonaro improved his mark to 15-10-1-1 with a bankroll of $876,794. In addition to the 2006 Count Fleet, the six-year-old also scored in the Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Sprint S. (G1) and Sunshine Millions Sprint last season, as well as the 2005 Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3). He finished second in the Bing Crosby H. (G1) last summer and was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Bordonaro was exiting a third-place effort when trying to defend his title in the Sunshine Millions Sprint in January. The California-bred is out of the winning Rajab mare Miss Excitement, who is herself a half-sister to six-time stakes victor Seahawk Gold (At the Threshold) and French stakes queen and Group 2-placed Beyond the Waves (Ocean Crest). Bordonaro's youngest half-siblings are a juvenile filly named Kulinski Rose (Mud Route) and an unnamed yearling colt by Siberian Summer.
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