Madeo wins at Santa Anita
Madeo defeated Sky Cape by two lengths to win Thursdays $64,200 Kings Highway Purse at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Madeo covered one mile on the turf in 1:34.22 and paid $8.80, $4.40 and $3.40.
Sky Cape, ridden by Smiths girlfriend Chantal Sutherland, returned $9 and $5.60. Safety Zone was another half-length back in third and paid $5.80 to show.
Madeo had been pulled up by Smith after taking a bad step in the San Fernando Stakes on Jan. 17.
We were so happy that Mike was aboard to pull him up and he was OK, trainer John Shirreffs said. We had vets go over him carefully at the barn and do X-rays. Everything looked good.
After competing in Grade 1 or Grade 2 races in his six previous starts, Thursdays allowance race was a decided drop down for Madeo, although he faced a talented field that included four horses with victories in Grade 1 or 2 races.
Mast Track, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup in June, faded to sixth.
The victory, worth $37,800, increased Madeos career earnings to $385,715, with four wins in 11 starts for owners Jerry and Ann Moss.
