Country Grammer edged Royal Ship by a head to win the $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, giving embattled trainer Bob Baffert his record-tying eighth victory in the
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Country Grammer Holds Royal Ship At Bay To Win Hollywood Gold Cup Sponsored by:
Country Grammer (right) edges Royal Ship in the Hollywood Gold Cup
In an ultra-game performance, Bob Baffert s Country Grammer battled back inside the length of the stretch and prevailed by a head over Brazilian-bred Royal Ship in Monday s Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Country Grammer got 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.23 and thus provided Baffert with his eighth Gold Cup win equaling the legendary Charlie Whittingham, who registered his final Gold Cup win with Ferdinand in 1987.
A measured second, about a half length off of longshot pacesetter Brown Storm a half mile from home, Country Grammer gained the advantage mid-way around the far turn but was immediately engaged to his outside by Royal Ship, who appeared to be in control a furlong from the wire. Country Grammer battled back, however, and got the job done, giving Prat his first-