Dr. Edgar Digs in to Win Appleton

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL –  Dr. Edgar got to the front early and never looked back in Friday’s Appleton Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park. This was the second consecutive win and first stakes win for the six-year-old son of Looking at Lucky.

Dr. Edgar absolutely exploded from the gate and shot right to the front to claim the early lead. Holiday Stone and Uncle B were the next closest, but Dr. Edgar owned the lead and put distance between himself and the rest of the field as he ran almost four lengths ahead of the next closest horse. Hawkish sat comfortably in fourth as Dr. Edgar set fractions of :24.29, :47.87, and 1.11:74. As they hit the second turn, the pressure was turned up as both Holiday Stone and Uncle B started their moves, but Dr. Edgar responded well to the urging by jockey Julien Leparoux and quickly dismissed their threat to maintain the lead.  Hawkish made a nice late run at Dr. Edgar but was unable to get up past the gutsy Dr. Edgar and had to settle for second. Doctor Mounty got up late for third and Uncle B finished fourth.

“Before the race, it looked like there was no speed so I just wanted to break good and put him in the race,” jockey Leparoux said. “I ended up being by myself on the lead. When they came to me at the quarter pole he re-broke and we went all the way. It was good.”

Dr. Edgar is owned by Eloise and Peter Canzone Sr. trained by Barclay Tagg. This was the second win of the day for Tagg who took over training duties of Dr. Edgar last summer.

“I thought he’d lay second all the way around and hopefully win,” Tagg said. “He went right to the front and opened up a little on the backside – I got a little worried then. Julien gave him a little breather and went on to win it. He knows the horse and he’s an excellent rider.”

Dr. Edgar returned $8.00 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.20 to show. Hawkish brought back $4.00 to place and $3.60 to show, while Doctor Mounty paid $3.00 to show.