Let Bob Do It Does His Thing Again

Trainer John Sadler made the comparison and there are some definite similarities.

A gelding with a less-than-fashionable pedigree developing into a star has happened before. Remember a certain son of Ole Bob Bowers named John Henry.

Although Let Bob Do It, who has run three times for Sadler, isn’t close to being in that class, the 3-year-old son of Percifal is off to a pretty good start.

Purchased for a reported $100,000 by his current owners after his win in the Pirate Cove at Santa Anita on March 1, Let Bob Do It got it done for the second consecutive time Saturday at Hollywood Park, capturing the $136,100 Cinema Handicap.

Four weeks after winning the Will Rogers Handicap, the 5-2 second choice led throughout under Kent Desormeaux Saturday, eventually scoring by three-quarters of a length over Dr. Sardonica in 1:47 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Owned by Alex Karkenny, Bob Levy, the president of Atlantic City Race Course, Las Vegas oddsmaker Roxy Roxborough and Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky, Let Bob Do It has more than earned back his purchase price. In addition to the wins in the Will Rogers and Cinema, he was second to Kentucky Oaks heroine Pike Place Dancer in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

“He’s been a lot of fun,” Sadler said. “He’s a little John Henry, a come-out-of-nowhere, no-breeding type of horse. There’s no reason for him to be this good other than what he’s got inside--a lot of courage. He’s a blue-collar type of horse.”

Horse Racing Notes

Looking for her third consecutive win, Pharma is the 2-1 favorite in the $200,000 Gamely Handicap today at Hollywood Park. Nearly two months after winning the Santa Ana Handicap at Santa Anita, the 5-year-old Theatrical mare won the Wilshire Handicap locally, beating Didina by three-quarters of a length. Auriette, the 3-1 third choice in the Gamely, is also trying to win her third consecutive race. A total of $1,702,233 was wagered at Hollywood Park and its betting satellites Saturday. The record is $1,749,308 on the 1989 Belmont, when Easy Goer kept Sunday Silence from sweeping the Triple Crown. . . . Powis Castle beat Juan’s Boy by a nose with favored Cominalittlehot another nose back in third to take the $61,250 Rich Cream Handicap. Laffit Pincay rode Powis Castle, subbing for Eddie Delahoussaye, who took off the latter part of the card because of a sore ankle.