By ED FOUNTAINE
May 17, 2008
BALTIMORE - Relishing the sloppy going, Student Council charged from well off the pace to run down front-running Gotcha Gold in deep stretch to win yesterday's Grade 1, $250,000 Pimlico Special by a neck under Shaun Bridgmohan.
The victory was the first in five starts for the 6-year-old son of Kingmambo since back-to-back scores last year in the Pacific Classic and Hawthorne Gold Cup.
"He's such a great horse, and he's got such a great stride to him that midway down the backside he grabbed a hold of me and wanted to go," Bridgmohan said. "I had to sit there and wait and bide my time and wait a little bit longer."
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Student Council ran the mile-and-three-sixteenths in 1:54.87. He paid $16.40 to win, topping a $63.60 exacta and $302.80 trifecta with Sir Whimsey third.
Grasshopper, the favorite, made a wide move on the far turn but could not sustain his drive and finished fifth. A.P. Arrow and Wanderin Boy were scratched.
In the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan for 3-year-old fillies at a mile-and-an-eighth, trainer Gary Contessa's New York-bred invader Sweet Vendetta, bred and owned by the Partridge Family's David Cassidy, came on late to win by 1 1/2 lengths under Channing Hill in 1:49.60.
She paid $17.40. Shes All Eltish, who rallied to take a 21/2-length lead in mid-stretch, ran second to complete an $85.80 exacta.
