INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Tale of a Champion defeated favored All Squared Away by a length to win the $200,250 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday for the biggest victory of his career.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, Tale of a Champion ran 114 miles on the turf in 2:01.27 and paid $22.40, $7.20 and $5 at 10-1 odds. He had been no better than fifth in five previous stakes races.
All Squared Away returned $3 and $2.80 as the 13-10 favorite. He flipped during the post parade, but quickly recovered and trainer Peter Miller said the 4-year-old gelding was spooked by the stable pony.
Lucky Primo, making his first start since Oct. 13 at Santa Anita, was another 114 lengths back in third and paid $4.60 to show.