FAVORITE JERANIMO SPRINTS AWAY TO TAKE THE GRADE II CITATION; PACIFIC OCEAN GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE IN GRADE III UNDERWOOD

Inglewood, Calif. (November 26, 2011)—Day two of the Turf Festival today featuring the Grade II Citation Handicap. A mile and 1/16 on the turf, Jeranimo kicked away from the pack to win. “He settled in beautiful and it was just a matter of finding somewhere to go,” said jockey Garrett Gomez. “When I showed him where to go he put it all together.”

It was a beautiful ride by Gomez, who patiently waited for the rest of the field to catch up with Bob Black Jack and then blew by with plenty of horse below him. “Everything he does seems so easy for him [Jeranimo],” said trainer Mike Pender. “He takes everything in stride and wakes up every morning with a big smile on his face and says let’s just go out there and do it. It was almost like the Breeders’ Cup gave him extra foundation that he needed.”

Pacific Ocean went to the front and he did not look back holding off the Grade II Vernon O. Underwood field that included Euroears, Comma to the Top, and M One Rifle. “He broke so well, I just let him go because I knew he would run on the lead, too,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “Even though he was going fast, he was pretty relaxed.” It did look easy as around the turn Rosario asked and Pacific Ocean answered striding away from the field.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t talk to Joel because I would have said just sit there and let everybody go,” said trainer Mike Mitchell, smiling. “And here he’s on the lead. That’s why if you don’t know anything, you don’t say anything.”

The Turf Festival’s final day is tomorrow at Hollywood Park, first post is 12:30pm. Golden Gate Fields will run a 9 race card, first post is 12:45pm.