Fed Biz is all business in winning San Diego Handicap

Del Mar, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – The far outside post position proved no problem for Fed Biz Saturday in winning the 73rd running of the $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar.

The 1 1/16-mile San Diego is a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic in four weeks.

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia, Fed Biz was sent off as the 3-1 second choice behind 2-1 favorite Frac Daddy in the nine-horse field. On Thursday, probable favorite Dance With Fate suffered a catastrophic injury at Del Mar and was euthanized that day.

Fed Biz, breaking from the last post, quickly moved to the inside to take lead setting the pace. Owned by Kaleem Shah, the 5-year-old led the field up the backstretch with very little pressure and easily put away the competition turning for home.

Fed Biz drew away from the field down the stretch to register a five-length victory in his debut effort of 2014. In the process, he set a new track record of 1:41 for 1 1/16 miles, breaking the one held by 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta.

“That performance was incredible. This is one race I’ve never been able to win,” Baffert stated.

Finishing second was 25-1 longshot Footbridge followed by You Know I Know, Frac Daddy, Handsome Mike, Honduran, Soi Phet, Imperative and Battier. Summer Hit was scratched.

Fed Biz notched his sixth lifetime win in 16 starts and adds $120,000 to his earnings. The 5-year-old has banked $660,496.

The horse ran his record at Del Mar to three wins in as many starts. Last year he won the track’s Pat O’Brien Stakes over eventual Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents. Fed Biz was sixth in the Dirt Mile after a two-month absence from the races.

Coming into this year, Fed Biz had the Del Mar record of 1:21.12 for seven furlongs as well.

Fed Biz returned $8.00, $5.40 and $4.40. Footbridge paid $19.00 and $7.60, and You Know I Know paid $4.40 to show.

Categorized in: Horses