BIG DOLLAR BILL SAVES BEST FOR LAST

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » At 3-5 on the morning line, Hard Study was a big enough favorite to begin with in Thursday’s $100,000 Birdstone Stakes. With the scratch of second choice You’re to Blame, the son of Big Brown – who won this race last year – loomed even larger in the short field of four.

As it turned out, this year’s Birdstone was proof that even a marathon race with a small field can produce an exciting result. As the horses wheeled into the stretch for the second time, all four were lined up across the track, each with what appeared to be an equal chance.

Hard Study had moved up to challenge pacesetters Carlino and Archanova but was having trouble putting them away. Widest of the four was Big Dollar Bill, who had trailed throughout but looked to have his rivals measured. The 4-year-old gelding swept to the front passing the eighth pole, then kept the stubborn Hard Study at bay to prevail by a length. Hard Study held off Archanova by a nose for the place. Carlino was another 1 ¾ lengths back in fourth.

“He got the job done,” said winning trainer Ian Wilkes, who also saddled Archanova. “I’ve always wanted to run him at these longer distances. I felt with his style – he’s kind of a grinding horse and has later gears – that it would suit him. You just don’t know un-

til you try, and thankfully it worked out well today.”

Running time for the grueling 1 ¾ miles was 2: 59.39. Big Dollar Bill

paid $12.60 to win.

The winner likes to come from some distance off the pace, a fact that is well known by regular rider Chris Landeros. Big Dollar Bill still trailed by nearly seven lengths at the half- mile pole.

“I thought he could

handle the distance, so I wasn’t too concerned with him going away from me down the backside,” said Landeros. “It actually set up nicely. I kind of caught a breather with him, but that last quarter, he came running big time.”

Big Dollar Bill, who had never been further than 1 1/8 miles prior to Thursday, won for the third time in 14 starts. The son of Midnight Lute has earned $210,226 for owners Dennis Farkas, Brett Franklin and Cheryl Franklin.

PHOTO CHELSEA DURAND/NYRA Big Dollar Bill with Chris Landeros aboard races to the wire in Thursday’s 8th running of The Birdstone at Saratoga Race Course.

PHOTO CHELSEA DURAND/NYRA Big Dollar Bill with Chris Landeros aboard holds off Hard Study, (inside right) and Archanova (outside left) Thursday’s 8th running of The Birdstone at Saratoga Race Course.