PACIFIC OCEAN WINS THE JAMES MARVIN STAKES!

Pacific Ocean got off to a brilliant start and never looked back in the $100,000 James Marvin Stakes (gr. III) this afternoon at Saratoga, turning back bids from Golddigger's Boy and Crossbow to win by a decisive 1 3/4 lengths.

Ridden to victory by Joel Rosario, Pacific Ocean got off to an absolutely terrific start from post position five and quickly opened up a commanding three-length advantage. Crossbow came out running in second, followed by Golddigger's Boy, Caixa Eletronica, Jackson Bend, and Scotus.

But despite Pacific Ocean's brilliant burst of speed at the start, the pace of the race was actually quite moderate, with Rosario guiding his mount through easy fractions of :23.19 and :46.67. Rounding the turn, Crossbow moved up to challenge for the lead, with Golddigger's Boy and Caixa Eletronica also looming on the outside, but Pacific Ocean turned them all back in the homestretch and drew off a bit in the final furlong to win the seven-furlong race in 1:22.53.

Golddigger's Boy rallied past Crossbow to secure second, while Jackson Bend, Caixa Eletronica, and Scotus completed the order of finish.

-Keelerman

James Marvin Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $100,000 James Marvin Stakes (gr. III), to be run on Friday at Saratoga, the opening day of the 2012 meet. The seven-furlong sprint will be run as a grade III for the first time this year, and has thus drawn a strong and competitive field of seven, led by last year's winner Jackson Bend, True North Handicap (gr. II) winner Caixa Eletronica, the promising Crossbow, and grade III stakes winner Pacific Ocean.

1 Caixa Eletronica
2 Scotus
3 Golddigger's Boy
4 Crossbow
5 Pacific Ocean
6 Zero Rate Policy
7 Jackson Bend

-Keelerman