OCEANS MAP ROLLS IN CAPE HENLOPEN
Gregory Sacco’s Oceans Map notched his first career stakes victory in the $75,000 Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park today.
With Isaac Castillo astride, the 4-year-old son of Liam’s Map returned $13.80 as the fourth-choice in the field of ten. The Kentucky-bred trained by Gregory Sacco won by 1 1/2-lengths and covered the mile and a half in 2:26.53 over a firm turf course. Real Factor, with Angel Cruz, finished second. It was a nose farther back to Cibolian, with Carol Cedeno, in third. The even-money favorite, Wissahickon, with Daniel Centeno, finished seventh.
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In his previous outing, Oceans Map finished tenth beaten 11-lengths in the Grade I United Nations at Monmouth Park on July 17, but his connections were very encouraged by that effort.
“This stakes win is pretty special because my son (Will) and I picked him out together at the sale for $10,000,” said winning trainer Gregory Sacco. “It is nice because he is a pretty will bred horse that was relatively inexpensive who was a chubby nutty horse at the sale. He has come a long way since then. But his last race, the United Nations, was a sneaky good race. In that race we gave Isaac (Castillo) the wrong instructions. We told him to take him back and he fought him against some of the best turf horses in the country. So off that race we knew a mile and a half would not be an issue and he likes the turf at Delaware. He broke his maiden here and also has a nice second. So we told Isaac (Castillo) to ride his race. We knew some horses were going to go and we also knew the pace was going to be hot, but we just did not want him to fight him, so we told him to drop his hands and settle him. When Isaac (Castillo) asked him, he really responded. I cannot be any happier to be here with my son for this stakes win.”
Oceans Map raised his career record to five wins from 18 starts with earnings of $174,980.
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