Sweet August Moon won her first race of 2010 in the Del Mar Grade 3 $147,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap this Sunday. Sweet August Moon has struggled to get on track in the win department in 2010, going winless in her first four races.
The five year-old filly, Sweet August Moon, horse racing betting favorite, engaged the leader and favorite Alpha Kitten when the two reached the clubhouse turn for the stretch. The two put on a neck and neck race to the finish, with Sweet August Moon finally finding another gear to finish the job, winning by 3/4 of a length. Silver Swallow made a lightning fast late run from far off the pace and was closing fast as the 6 1/2 furlong race finished. Silver Swallow could have laid the field to waste if she had kicked for home just a few moments earlier.
The race was a short field of only four horses for the Rancho Bernardo Handicap. Missing was the filly, Free Flying Soul, who was injured with a chip in her ankle. Free Flying Soul is now scheduled for surgery to rectify the problem and will miss a minimum of three months.
Alpha Kitten was the even money favorite and broke fast out of the gate on the back stretch. Alpha Kitten had the field covered as they entered the turn but by the time they rounded the turn and headed down the stretch, Sweet August Moon had engaged her in an all out battle headed towards the finish line.