In his first start for new owner and trainer David Jacobson, mid-Atlantic fan favorite Immortal Eyes finished sixth of seven in today’s $50,000 Hockessin Stakes at Delaware Park.

It marked the first time in nine starts, dating back to the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap in May of 2013, that the nine year-old Greatness gelding had finished worse than second.

Sent off as the 2.90-1 third choice, Immortal Eyes was never much involved.  He raced towards the rear throughout, swung outside nearing the lane, but had no further response, beating only 38-1 Major King to the wire.

Immortal Eyes’s stable mate, Royal Currier, found a seam at the rail to best King Henry for the win.  Favorite, and defending champ, Picko’s Pride, was third in the six-furlong event.

Immortal Eyes was sold to Jacobson following the passing of the horse’s longtime owner, Bobby Abbo, this past April.  That removed the elder statesman from the Bowie Training Center and the barn of trainer Damon Dilodovico, the places from which he’d done his best running.

Overall, Immortal Eyes has 19 wins from 51 career starts, with earnings of more than $1.1 million.