ULTIMATE EAGLE STEALS THE GRADE II OAK TREE DERBY

Arcadia, Calif. (October 15, 2011)—It was a shocker at Santa Anita Park, as Ultimate Eagle and Martin Pedroza steal the Grade II Oak Tree Derby. He was able to find more down the stretch and hold off a late charge by Venomous.

It was Ultimate Eagles first attempt at a stakes race and it showed on the tote board, going off at 34-1. “There was never a doubt in my mind he could run this big,” said jockey Martin Pedroza, “in my mind he was not 40-1 or whatever his odds were. I like this horse and I told Mike [Pender] ‘wow’ when I worked him last.”

There were high hopes for this horse before he got sick when he was two. “This was our Kentucky Derby horse before he got colic at 2-years-old,” said trainer Mike Pender, surprised that he went off at 34-1, “It’s a miracle he’s even here.”

Tomorrow watch as Up In Time, Sarah’s Secret, and Bauble Queen lead a field of 11 in the Grade III Harold C. Ramser, Sr. Stakes. The race will begin at 4:04 p.m. and will be available on HRTV. You can see the race streaming live at HRTV.com.