Clement L. Hirsch

Nico Nierenberg's TUCKED AWAY (Unusual Heat) put in a thrilling late run to gamely win the $300,000

Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) by a nose at Del Mar on

Sunday. Piloted by Alex Solis, the five-year-old mare rated well off the pace as

Alphabet Kisses (Alphabet Soup) led the group through sharp fractions of :22

4/5, :45 4/5 and 1:09 4/5 for the opening six furlongs. Turning for home,

Valentine Dancer (In Excess [Ire]) overtook the pacesetter but was soon leg

weary, and the closing charge came, with the Paddy Gallagher-trained Tucked Away storming

home at 19-1. Ridden by Alex Solis, the winner paid $40.40, $12.40 and $6, while

topping the $75.50 exacta ($1), $435.70 trifecta ($1) and the $2,531 superfecta

($1) (6-8-5-3). The final time for 1 1/16 miles on the fast track was 1:42 4/5.

Prior to the race, Girl Warrior (Elusive Quality) and Santa Candida (Arg)

(Espaciado) broke through the gate, causing a delay, and following the race

there was a lengthy stewards inquiry and jockey objection, but to no avail as

the final result remained the same.

Hollywood Story (Wild Rush) closed widest of all and fell just shy of the top

prize, paying $4.60 and $3.20 as the 5-2 favorite. Valentine Dancer held well for the show

after a grueling early run, worth $3.60 at 9-2. Santa Candida concluded the

superfecta at 23-1, and was followed by Star Parade (Arg) (Parade Marshal), Muir

Beach (Skip Away), Girl Warrior and pacesetter Alphabet Kisses.

Tucked Away earned her biggest win to date, moving her career line to

29-5-7-5 with a bankroll of $582,956. The Cal-bred mare was victorious in the

2004 Solana Beach H., as well as the 2003 Fleet Treat S. and Megali Farms S.,

and also owns placings in a pair of graded affairs.

Bred in the Golden State by Madeline Auerbach, the Tucked Away was produced from the

stakes-winning Chemolo (Be a Native) and has an unraced two-year-old full

brother named Add Heat as well as an unnamed 2005 full brother.