12 Ene. USA. San Fernando S. G2. Santa Anita Park. 8,5f. AW. 200.000 $
1.- AIR COMMANDER (A.Gryder)
2.- JOHNNY EVES (D.Flores)
3.- TIAGO (M.Smith)


Comebacking Air Commander shocked his San Fernando Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) rivals at odds of 52-1 when he nosed Johnny Eves in a terrific stretch duel at Santa Anita Jan. 12.

The Bob Baffert trained Air Commander has always been well thought of. He missed eight months of action last year following a second-place finish as the 6-5 choice in the San Felipe (gr. II), although there was nothing really wrong. The son of Point Given, co-bred and owned by Robert N. Clay, just needed time to grow up, Baffert said.

"We freshened him up and brought him back with with a couple of outings, and he needed those outings," Baffert said. "He was really training exceptionally well for this race.

"Last year, he was just a big clown. He was all over the track. He's finally got it together."

How close was this one? Both jockeys, Aaron Gryder on Air Commander and David Flores on Johnny Eves, thought the runner-up won. Air Commander took the lead from the Malibu (gr. I) winner at the sixteenth pole, but Johnny Eves—fighting back on the inside—appeared to have the edge in the final couple of strides. However, the final photo had Air Commander in front by an inch on the head bob.

"I had a feeling he got the bob on me," Gryder said. "After the finish, I congratulated David, and he said, 'Thanks,' so I'm sure he thought he won, too."

The final time for the 1 1/16-mile test for 4-year-olds was a 1:40.16 on a blazing Cushion Track racing surface. The San Fernando is a $200,000 race.

Tiago, the 3-2 favorite in the 11-horse field, finished third.