HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Giant Oak unleashed a powerful stretch rally to capture the Grade 1 $500,000 Donn Handicap by two lengths over Morning Line at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
The son of Giant’s Causeway completed the 1 1/8-mile in 1:48.23 with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard to earn $16.80, $7.20 and $4.20. Morning Line paid $5.00 and $3.40, and Rule was a nose back in third to return $2.60.
Favorite Fly Down was coming off a third-place finish behind Blame and Horse of the Year Zenyatta in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic but never factored and finished fifth.
The Grade 1 win was the second straight for the 5-year-old Giant Oak, who won the Clark at Churchill Downs via disqualification on Nov. 26.
