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| HYPERBARIC |
| Benoit & Associates photo |
by Tim Nichols
Hyperbaric made all the pace en route to winning the $400,000 Citation Handicap (G1) on Friday at Hollywood Park.
The five-year-old Sky Classic gelding covered the 1 1/16 miles on turf rated as firm in 1:41.29 to win by three-quarters of a length and secure his fourth straight win.
Breaking from post position one, Hyperbaric immediately was sent to the front by jockey Tyler Baze. Formal Decree (Ger) ran outside Hyperbaric for the first furlong before allowing his rival to clip off uncontested fractions of :24.08, :48.56, and 1:12.63 through six furlongs.
With Hyperbaric leading along the rail, Formal Decree, Proudinsky (Ger), Medici Code (GB), and even-money favorite Whatsthescript (Ire) pushed the front-runner as the group fanned five wide entering the stretch.
Hyperbaric held a 1 1/2-length lead in early stretch Formal Decree moved to challenge in the lane. Hyperbaric had plenty in reserve to repel Formal Decree and accelerated to his first Grade 1 win.
Formal Decree held on for second, one length in front of third-place finisher Becrux (Ity).
Trained by Julio Canani for Prestonwood Farm, Hyperbaric entered the Citation off a win in the Oak Tree Mile Stakes (G2) on September 28 at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park. He won the Harry F. Brubaker Handicap on August 20 and an allowance/optional claiming race on July 28 at Del Mar to ignite his winning streak.
Bred in Kentucky by W. J. Chamblin, Hyperbaric is out of the stakes-winning Skywalker mare Teasing Charm. He improved to seven wins in 12 career starts and increased his earnings to $654,476.
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