INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Victor’s Cry defeated Karelian by a head to win Monday’s $250,000 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park in his first Grade 1 stakes race.
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Victor’s Cry covered the distance on the turf in 1:32.88 and paid $44.40, $12.60 and $7.20 at 21-1 odds.
Karelian returned $3.60 and $2.80 as the 9-5 favorite, while Mr Gruff was another 114 lengths back in third and paid $4 to show after setting the early pace.
The victory was Nakatani’s fifth in the Shoemaker, one behind the late Hall of Fame jockey for whom the race is named.
