Gift Box denies McKinzie in photo-finish to land Santa Anita Handicap

Santa Anita | Santa Anita Handicap (Grade 1) | 1m2f | 4yo+ | dirt

The slimmest nostril was all that separated the John Sadler-trained Gift Box from McKinzie in a photo-finish after the $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap.

After Gift Box took the lead under Joel Rosario off the turn for home, McKinzie had him in his sights, and the two hooked up for a battle down the length of the California stretch.

It was the big, grey horse who landed the spoils, while McKinzie's camp had to settle for the toughest of seconds. Mongolian Groom was third.

From the three-sixteenths pole home, it was a classic head-to-head battle, with Gift Box emerging victorious in the final strides.

Accelerate: won last year's Santa Anita HandicapCredit: Michele MacDonald

"It was a good race," Rosario said. "He broke perfectly and John told me to keep him close and when he wants to go, maybe follow someone.

"It was a good race turning for home. I knew McKinzie was coming for us in the last part and he showed a lot of heart."

Sadler and Hronis Racing toasted their second successive win in the race after the top-class Accelerate triumphed last season.

"This is very special," said Sadler. "I grew up with this race and to win it two years in a row is incredible. Joel executed a brilliant ride.”

Keeneland | Madison Stakes (Grade 1) | 7f | 4yo+ f&m | dirt

A trip from her southern California base paid dividends for Spiced Perfection as she prevailed in a stretch duel to win the Madison Stakes by a neck from a game Amy's Challenge.

Trainer Peter Miller said. "It was a great ride by Javier Castellano, and I'm happy for the whole team. She ran excellently and has a huge heart. She's not the biggest and isn't impressive to look at, but she's impressive to watch.

"We're going to leave her here in Kentucky and give her a couple of easy weeks. Hopefully, we can run her in the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend."

Aqueduct | Carter Handicap (Grade 1) | 7f | 4yo+| dirt

The Jason Servis-trained World Of Trouble made a bold late run to the wire to ultimately land the spoils in the $400,000 Carter Handicap.

Jockey Manuel Franco said: "Jason told me to break out of there and see how it developed, because we knew Skyler's Scramjet was going to go.

“We wanted to sit right off, and it worked out well. He can be sensitive, so I didn't want to get on him, and I think that was the key. I let him relax, and when I asked him to go he was there for me."

Servis added: "He's a running son of a gun. He makes me look good. If I had a mare, I would breed to him. I think we might go back to the turf.

"It would add some flavour to him as a stallion and then maybe back to the dirt, so we'll see."

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