Stakes win for Maragh

INGLEWOOD, California (CMC):

Jamaican jockey Rajiv Maragh helped Sanagas pass his first Grade One test in style, as he steered the favourite to victory in the US$250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes at Hollywood Park on Saturday.

Going 1¹/² miles, Maragh stalked with the five-year-old gelding from third before launching his bid on the turn and streaking clear in the stretch to win by 3¹/⁴ lengths.

"It was pretty straightforward. My horse got into a nice flow right away and was just pulling me around the track," Maragh said.

"I was always in a good position without having to ask him. He made my job very easy."

The win for Sanagas was his seventh in 10 starts and his second consecutive, having won the Grade Three Sycamore Stakes over 1⁵/⁸ mile at Keeneland Race last month, also under Maragh.

"It (the move) was a little earlier than I wanted initially, but he really wanted to go and I didn't want to dishearten him. He always runs big and we've always had high hopes for him," continued Maragh, who covered the trip in two minutes, 27.53 seconds.

The gelding was hustled clear, opening up an imposing 4¹/² length lead in the stretch before coasting to the finish unchallenged. Sanagas, who also won the John's Call Stakes at Saratoga in August, has earnings of $282,282.