INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Salute the Sarge burst between horses
in the stretch and beat Leonides by a nose to win the $114,900
Hollywood Juvenile Championship on Wednesday at Hollywood Park.
Michael Baze, the meet's leading rider with 63 victories, won
his third race on the card when he guided Salute the Sarge from
fourth at the top of the stretch to win in 1 minute, 12.08 seconds
over six furlongs.
"I wasn't sure I was going to get there, but the last part he
started digging in," said Baze, who also won the second and fourth
races. "I think he saw that horse way outside at the last minute.
It was close, I wasn't sure."
Salute the Sarge paid $15.20, $7.20 and $5. Leonides returned
$5.20 and $4, while Whatever Whenever paid $4.80 to show in the
field of 11 2-year-olds.
The victory, worth $68,940, increased Salute the Sarge's career
earnings to $96,540, with two wins in as many starts.