Boxed in and looking for running room, Bold Hawk found it and nipped Twilight Meteor on the line in the $250,000 Hawthorne Derby (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO) Oct. 13.

The 3-year-old gelded son of Silver Hawk was well off the pace as Voy Por Uno Mas led through early fractions of :22.47 and :46.44, followed by Ghazi Up and Starvinski. Wheels Up At Noon was also right there, making a bid for the lead as the field turned for home.

Under energetic handling from jockey Jean Luc-Samyn, the son of Silver Hawk burst through a cavalry charge mid-stretch, when it looked like anyone in the 11-horse field had a shot at the money. Twilight Meteor was also right there, and the two hit the line together in a close finish. The final time was 1:47.45 for 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Ultimately, Bold Hawk returned $10, $4.80, and $3.40 as the winner by a head. Twilight Meteor and jockey Christopher Di Carlo paid $3.20 and $2.80, while Western Prize brought $8 under jockey Jose Ferrer. Voy Por Uno Mas, Starvinsky, Summer Doldrums, Love Dubai, Wheels Up At Noon, Ghazi Up, All I Can Get, and James the Greater completed the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Phillips Racing Parnership out of the Danzig mare Tribulation, Bold Hawk came into the Hawthorne Derby off a two-length allowance win at Belmont Park Sept. 23 for trainer James Toner. He is owned by Patricia, Ronald, and Justin Nicholson and now has two career wins and a third from four starts.  

(Chart, Equibase)