Upset winner in S.F. Mile

A stakes winner as a 3-year-old in 2010, Hudson Landing became one again when he held off 1-to-2 favorite Jeranimo by a half-length to capture the Grade 3, $150,000 San Francisco Mile in a $19.60 upset on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

In between, he went from competing in the S.F. Mile and Berkeley Stakes in 2011 to running in a series of claiming races in which he attracted a lot of interested parties. He was claimed five times in a seven-race span capped by Jared Chappell of Chappell Alpine Farms LLC taking him for $50,000 on Feb. 25.

“I’ve watched this horse for two years and had claims in for him for $32,000 and $40,000 and lost the shake,” Chappell said after a jubilant celebration in the winner’s circle. “We believed in the horse’s quality and thought he was pretty gutty.”

Hudson Landing won two $62,500 claimers after Chappell acquired him to earn his spot in the S.F. Mile.

“We knew he had to win a couple of times to try this race,” Chappell said. “To be able to take a shot like this and have it pay off is amazing. We thought if he could hit the board (top-three finish) it would be fantastic.”

Hudson Landing ran in fifth place for most of Saturday’s race, began rallying on the second turn, and once into the stretch set sail on Gallant Son, who had taken command from fading pacesetter Sanger Silver.

After Hudson Landing gained the lead inside the 16th pole, Jeranimo came flying in the middle of the course, but he was a little too late. Gallant Son, making his first start since Aug. 17, finished third — threequarters of a length behind Jeranimo.

“When we were coming to the quarter pole, I moved him outside and hit him, and he took off,” winning jockey Juan Hernandez said. “He ran strong down the stretch.”

Trained by Blaine Wright, Hudson Landing earned $90,000 for his 10th win in 29 starts to push his career total to $365,688, with $129,500 coming for Chappell.

“This is by far the biggest win of my career,” said Wright, who began training in 2006. “I have a good horse, good help, a good jockey and great clientele. I got the horse in great shape. This is something I never imagined us doing. Hopefully, this is the start of a few big things.”