Two Months Rent edges Film Shot in thrilling Hawthorne Derby

20-1 shot Two Months Rent rallied fast inside the final furlong to post a surprising upset in the $200,000 Hawthorne Derby (gr. III) this afternoon at Hawthorne race course, edging out Film Shot to win the nine-furlong turf race by a head.

Ridden to victory by Jesus Castanon, Two Months Rent settled back into seventh place early on as Finale, All Stormy, and All Squared Away led the way through moderate fractions of :23.83 and :48.71 seconds. Film Shot, Pleasant Closing, and Francois were also fairly close to the pace, with Two Months Rent about three lengths behind them. Control Tower, Quick Wit, North of Never, Lea, and Aldous Snow were the trailers.

Finale continued to lead the way through three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.75 and turned for home still in front, but Film Shot soon presented a strong challenge and took command of the advantage just past the eighth pole. He briefly opened up a sizable advantage, but Two Months Rent was rallying fast on the far outside, and his momentum carried him to a narrow victory. The final time over a soft course was 1:52.58 seconds.

Lea rallied belatedly to finish third, 3 3/4 lengths behinds the top two. Control Tower, North of Never, Finale, Francois, Aldous Snow, Quick Wit, All Stormy, Pleasant Closing, and All Squared Away completed the order of finish.

The winner, a three-year-old gelded son of Purim out of the Sharpen Up mare Sharp Tradition, is trained by James Toner and owned by AJ Suited Racing Stable.

-Keelerman

Pool Play upsets Hawthorne Gold Cup

It has become apparent that the seven-year-old gelding Pool Play is at his best racing over dirt tracks. The veteran of 32 starts has only run twice over such surfaces, but those two runs brought about victories in the 2011 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) and the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Hawthorne this afternoon.

Ridden to victory by Miguel Mena, Pool Play did not show any early speed -- which is customary -- and settled back to be last of six for the first eight furlongs of the ten-furlong race. In the meantime, Alternation and Eldaafer were dueling for the early lead through fractions of :24.68, :49.40, and 1:13.97. During this time, they were anywhere from 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 lengths clear of Fly Lexis Fly, who was racing along the inside in third. Mister Marti Gras, Cease, and Pool Play were the trailers.

Following a mile in 1:40.23, Eldaafer took command of the lead from Alternation and left that one behind, gamely leading the way into the homestretch. But Pool Play and Cease were both rallying strongly on the far outside, with Pool Play moving the stronger of the pair. In the end, it was a close finish, but Pool Play was game to the finish and proved best by a half-length while stopping the clock in 2:06.36 seconds over a tiring racetrack.

Cease defeated Eldaafer by 1 1/4 lengths for second, while Mister Marti Gras, Fly Lexis Fly, and Alternation completed the order of finish.

The winner is a son of Silver Deputy out of the Cox's Ridge mare Zuri Ridge. Trained by Mark Casse and owned by W.S. Farish Jr., the possibility exists that Pool Play could be sent to Santa Anita for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) on November 3rd.

-Keelerman

Hawthorne Gold Cup Entries: Seven entered in deep, competitive race

Alternation, 5-for-6 this year with victories in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II) and Pimlico Special Stakes (gr. III), is the morning line favorite for the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (gr. II), to be run on Saturday at Hawthorne Park.

Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, the four-year-old son of Distorted Humor has been competing against -- and beating -- some of the finest horses in the country, including Ron the Greek, Fort Larned, Hymn Book, and Nehro. He will be ridden on Saturday by regular rider Luis Quinonez.

Other contenders include three time graded stakes winner Nates Mineshaft, Woodward Stakes (gr. I) third-place finisher Cease, and 2011 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) winner Pool Play.

Post Positions

PP	Horse	Weight	Jockey	Trainer	M. L. Odds
1	Alternation	121	Luis Quinonez	Donnie Von Hemel	5-2
2	Eldaafer	114	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	Diane Alvarado	6-1
3	Mister Marti Gras	115	Eduardo E. Perez	Chris Block	5-1
4	Pool Play	114	Miguel Mena	Mark Casse	6-1
5	Cease	116	Jesse Campbell	Al Stall, Jr.	7-2
6	Fly Lexis Fly	112	Francisco Torres	Neil Drysdale	8-1
7	Nates Mineshaft	117	E. T. Baird	Austin Smith	4-1

-Keelerman