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2021 Rancho Bernardo Handicap

Joe Bravo celebrates aboard Edgeway after winning the 2021 Rancho Bernardo Handicap

The feature race on the Friday before the Pacific Classic at Del Mar was the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) for fillies and mares sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Conditions were excellent for mid-August at the seaside oval with cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 70's. Just 5 made final entry but after Osunitas Stakes 9th place finisher Candura scratched on race day, just 4 loaded into the gate with Edgeway the even-money choice off her distant 4th in the Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos. In to challenge her were 2-1 second choice Scotish Star, off a close second in allowance company after shipping from Argentina, 5-2 Stellar Sound off an allowance win, and 8-1 Proud Emma, unraced since 6th in the Santa Monica (G2) in February.

Down the stretch in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap

Edgeway and Stellar Sound battled for the lead out of the chute and down the backstretch through fractions of 22.31 and 44.94 while stalked by Scotish Star, with Proud Emma trailing the pack another 1 1/2 lengths behind. Turning for home, Edgeway opened up a 1 1/2 length lead through 6f in 1:10.05. Proud Emma put in a strong 4 wide rally but Edgeway held her off to win by a length in 1:16.80. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Stellar Sound third, and 3/4 more to Scotish Star last.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 4 Edgeway Bravo 4.00 2.60 ---- 5 Proud Emma Smith 4.60 ---- 3 Stellar Sound Hernandez ---- Winning Time: 1:16.80 $1 Exacta 4-5 13.20 $2 Quinella 4-5 13.60 $0.50 Trifecta 4-5-3 12.50 Results Chart

Left: Edgeway in the winner's circle. Winning trainer John Sadler said, "This has been such a good race for me and it is fun to win it again; it has been a few years in between wins. This is a good filly, she has a great record. The only bad race was her last one and Gamine (who beat her in the Great Lady M Stakes) is the best in the country. She came back from it today, so I'm very happy."

Right: Edgeway heads back to the barn after the race.

Left: Edgeway heads to the paddock before the race.

Right: Edgeway returns after the race. Winning jockey Joe Bravo said, "She was feeling real positive from the break right on through. I was in the catbird seat pretty much all the way. At the three-eighths (pole) I just cut her loose and she got real brave then. She's a nice filly and good horses make my job easier. It'll be interesting to see what John (Sadler) does with her next."

Left: Second place finisher Proud Emma in the post parade. The Peter Miller trainee improved her record to 6 wins, 3 seconds, and 0 thirds in 19 starts, earning $325,658 for owners Gem Inc. and Tom Kagele.

Right: Third place finisher Stellar Sound in the paddock before the race. The Mike McCarthy trainee improved her record to 3 wins, 0 seconds, and 4 thirds in 8 starts, earning $182,200 for owner-breeder Don Alberto Stable.

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