Spotsgone wires Hanshin

Robert Yagos' SPOTSGONE (Bright Launch) took the lead soon after the start of

Saturday's $100,000

Hanshin

Cup H. (G3) at Arlington Park and was never headed en route to a 2

1/4-length victory under Earlie Fires. The Bill Fires-trained four-year-old set

splits of :23 1/5, :45 3/5, 1:09 4/5 and 1:21 before finishing the mile

Polytrack test in 1:33 3/5 as the 81-1 longest shot on the board.

Spotsgone gifted his few, but faithful, backers with payouts of $165, $38 and

$9.60 while starting the $660.60 exacta. Lewis Michael (Rahy), the 6-5 favorite,

ran three wide before rallying on the turn to take second by two lengths,

returning $3.40 and $2.80. Gouldings Green (Charismatic) came from next to last

to grab third at 5-1, paying $4.20 and ending the nice $3,659.60 trifecta. It

was another length back to Fort Prado (El Prado [Ire]), who rounded out the very

rewarding $22,637.60 superfecta (8-7-6-2).

Buddy Got Even (Stephen Got Even) just missed fourth by a neck, and was

followed under the line by High Expectations (Peaks and Valleys), Throng (Silver

Deputy), Purim (Dynaformer), Barbican (A.P. Indy) and Star by Design (Distorted

Humor). Connections (Unbridled) was withdrawn.

Spotsgone was making his graded debut in this spot, boosting his earnings to

$227,742 and moving his line to 23-5-3-1. The bay captured last year's Prairie

Mile S. after a neck second in the Derby Trial S. at Churchill Downs.

Bred in Kentucky by Hurstland Farm, Spotsgone was a $24,000 RNA at the 2004

Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the winning Double's Lass (Mr.

Leader), who has also produced stakes winners Launch a Double (Bright Launch)

and Turn to Lass (Bright Launch) as well as an unraced juvenile filly named

Leading Lass (Bright Launch), an unnamed yearling filly by Bright Launch and an

unnamed 2007 filly by Proud Citizen.