Donoharm holds on again at end

Sunday, February 3, 2013

— HOT SPRINGS - Donoharm can also do no wrong.

Donoharm recorded his fifth consecutive victory, edging heavily favored San Pablo by three-quarters of a length to win the $100,000 Essex Handicap for older horses Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Win Willy finished another half-length back in third, leaving him $22,113 short of becoming a millionaire.

The finish was similar to the $75,000 Fifth Season Stakes on Jan. 11, which Donoharm won by a neck over Skyring, with Win Willy a half-length farther back in third.

“At no point in the race was I confident that he was going to get there until the end,“ winning trainer Bret Calhoun said.

“The horse has gotten very good, and his heart is very big.”

Master Rick and early leader Skyring completed the order of finish in the compact five-horse field.

Ridden by Cliff Berry, Donoharm paid $17.40, $4.80 and $2.80. San Pablo, the 3-5 favorite, paid $2.60 and $2.10. Win Willy paid $2.20.

The winner ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.71.

A 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, Donoharm races for Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch, who purchased the gelding for $57,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Donoharm increased his career earnings to $242,080 after his sixth victory in 15 lifetime starts.

Donoharm made eight starts before breaking his maiden against $50,000 claimers last May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Now, the gelding has won six of his past seven races,including three consecutive stakes.

Four of those victories have been by less than a length.

“People may have thought his last race was a fluke, but he proved that he belonged today,” Berry said.

“The nice thing is he’s very determined, and he’s sharp right now.”

Donoharm set just off the pace Saturday before making a three-wide bid for the lead on the second turn.

San Pablo, a multiple stakes winner owned by Dan Bearden of Van Buren, seized the advantage turning for home and was 2 lengths clear in midstretch.

But San Pablo was worn down on the outside by Donoharm in the final furlong.

Skyring had assumed the lead after San Pablo was last away and recorded early splits of :23.90 for the opening quarter and :47.39 for a half-mile.

“He broke a little slow,” said Chris DeCarlo, who rode San Pablo.

“He’s not the best horse in the gate, but he recovered quickly and put me in the race.

“He may have needed this race. He got a little tired.”

San Pablo was making his first start since Dec. 8.

Win Willy fell far back early before launching his patented rally on the second turn, but he fell short in his third attempt to become a millionaire.

“I was hoping he would run well, and he did,” jockey Seth Martinez said.

“I just wish the finish had been a little better.

“He was running hard in the stretch. From the threeeighths home, he gave me everything he had.”

Oaklawn’s two-turn series of stakes races for older horses continues with the $150,000 Grade III Razorback Handicap on March 9.

Sports, Pages 31 on 02/03/2013