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Fantastic Spain catches Notable Guest in Golden Gate David Bienstock and Charles Winner's FANTASTIC SPAIN (Fantastic Fellow) came close to scoring his first stakes victory when finishing second by a neck in October's Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup H. (G3), and the seven-year-old horse finally broke through in Monday's $191,400 Golden Gate Fields Breeders' Cup S. (G3), catching Notable Guest (Kingmambo) in the final jumps to win by a neck. Ridden by Chad Schvaneveldt, the Neil Drysdale charge closed from last to first in the 1 3/8-mile affair, stopping the teletimer over the firm turf in 2:17 3/5. Dismissed as the 8-1 fourth choice in the eight-horse field, Fantastic Spain paid $18.20, $5.80 and $4.20. He overcame trouble at the quarter-pole when forced to check behind a retreating rival, regaining his momentum and closing strongly up the inside to nail the 4-5 favorite. Notable Guest, who surged to the lead with a quarter-mile left to run, appeared headed to victory momentarily but could not withstand the rush of the winner. The runner-up returned $2.60 and $2.20 after finishing two lengths clear of third-placer Macduff (GB) (Machiavellian), who was good for $2.80 at 3-1. The $2 exotics were worth $43.20 (exacta), $125.40 (trifecta) and $1,143.40 (1-3-5-2 superfecta). Now Victory (Sharp Victor), who set a quick pace in :24 4/5, :48 2/5 and 1:12 4/5 before being overhauled, managed to hold fourth at 30-1. He was followed under the wire by Boule d'Or (Ire) (Croco Rouge), Corey County (High Yield), Railroad (Double Honor) and Bravo Maestro (Stravinsky). Bred in Kentucky by The Thoroughbred Corp., Fantastic Spain commanded $200,000 at the 2004 Barretts March sale. He's out of the stakes-winning Drina (Regal and Royal), who has proven to be an exceptional broodmare. The 19-year-old matriarch is the dam of 2000 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and $3.5 million earner Spain (Thunder Gulch); multiple Grade 2 hero Puerto Banus (Supremo); multiple stakes victress Path of Thunder (Thunder Gulch); a yearling colt named Drina Express (Gone West); and a 2007 colt by Speightstown. Besides the aforementioned Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup H., Fantastic Spain has also placed in the 2005 Stanford Breeders' Cup H. (G3). Since winning his career debut in 2003, the lightly raced bay horse has raced only 14 times, earning $359,808 from a 15-5-4-1 line. He turned in a career best on Memorial Day at Golden Gate Fields.
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