Shared Belief all alone in winning Los Alamitos Derby

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Los Alamitos, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Champion gelding Shared Belief easily disposed of his six rivals Saturday in the $500,000 Los Alamitos Derby at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Shared Belief, trained by co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer, went off as the 7-10 favorite for the 1 1/8-mile stakes formerly Hollywood Park's Swaps Stakes.

With Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in the saddle, Shared Belief pressed the pace set by Can the Man with 3-1 second choice Candy Boy running off the pace.

Entering the far turn, Candy Boy joined the leaders from the outside as Shared Belief drew even with Can the Man. The favorite, in just his second start of the year, assumed the lead coming into the stretch and proceeded to draw away from the field.

Hand ridden down the stretch by Smith, Shared Belief glided to a 4 1/4-length win over Candy Boy with 15-1 longshot Tonito M. getting third. Finishing fourth was Friendswith K Mill followed by Can the Man, Top Fortitude and Eddie's First.

The time for the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track was 1:47.01, the fastest time since Old Trieste won the Swaps in 1998 in 1:47.06.

Also partly owned by broadcaster Jim Rome, Shared Belief picked up $300,000 as he remains undefeated in five career starts. The 3-year-old gelding has total lifetime earnings of $772,200.

Shared Belief missed the Triple Crown races with an injury, but came back with a win in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields on May 26, his first start in more than five months.

He was voted 2013 champion 2-year-old after winning all three races last year, including the Hollywood Prevue and CashCall Futurity. The 3-year-old has won his five starts by a combined 29 lengths.

The Los Alamitos Derby began the $1 million Bolton Challenge. A bonus will be paid to the horse, Shared Belief, that wins the Los Alamitos Derby, Pacific Classic Aug. 24 at Del Mar and $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

Shared Belief paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10. Candy Boy returned $3.60 and $2.60, and Tonito M. paid $5.00 to show.