Polar Expedition has lost a step but the speed demon of yesteryear has learned to keep his cool.
The Illinois-bred Horse of the Year in 1993, ’94 and ’96 struck from off the pace to score a decisive victory in Saturday’s $94,365 High Alexander Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course.
“Today I thought maybe we’d be in front but the pace was a little too quick,” said Hugh Robertson, who trains the 6-year-old gelding for owner-breeder James Cody. “He’s more versatile than he used to be. I think sometimes when he watches horses he realizes he’s going a little too fast and he backs off on his own.”
Sent off the 7-10 favorite in the seven-horse field, Polar Expedition found himself in front at the outset of the 1 1/16-mile race. “I thought about just going on,” said jockey Mark Guidry. “But then Ray Sibille sent his horse (Major Dandy), and he was going pretty quick.”
Guidry decided to let Polar Expedition play the role of the stalker in second place while Major Dandy recorded relatively fast fractions of :22 4/5 for the quarter and :46 1/5 for the half.
For a while, it seemed Sibille might steal the race. But Polar Expedition had been running relaxed and was primed to make a stretch move. “He showed his class down the lane,” said Guidry.
That “class” was reflected by his 3 3/4-length conquest over Ambivilent Force, who nosed out tiring Major Dandy for second.
The victory was the second in six starts this year for Polar Expedition and his first since April when he captured Sportsman’s Park’s Milwaukee Avenue Handicap. He was clocked in 1:43 and paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.40.
The High Alexander was one of four races for Illinois-breds that comprised the Phil Georgeff Illinois Festival of Racing.
– Guidry also went to the winner’s circle in the $48,420 Showtime Deb Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, piloting 2-5 favorite Galaxy Girl to a 6 3/4-length victory.
– Guidry was on the 3-5 favorite, Sir Andrew, in the $49,590 Sun Power Stakes for 2-year-old males but they were beaten by a head by 22-1 long shot Ole Cart.
– With Randall Meier at the reins, Pollyanna Pixie recovered from a stumbling start to win the $93,870 Little Sucker Stakes for fillies and mares by 5 1/4 lengths.
