July 27, 2007

BECRUX WINS WICKERR HANDICAP SECOND YEAR RUNNING,
TILT ON POLYTRACK IN GRADE 1 PACIFIC CLASSIC POSSIBLE

Becrux conceded weight to all while taking Wickerr Handicap for second time.

Team Valor and Gary Barber's Becrux won Del Mar's Wickerr Handicap for a second year in a row on Friday evening, scoring by a neck with a fast mile clocking of 1:33.04.

It was the 5-year-old gelding's 2006 Wickerr that sparked a mid-season rally for the ex-Italian Champion that led to a victory in Canada in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

Unlucky in his last two starts in Grade 1 and Grade 2 races in which he was blocked when beaten about a length, Becrux this time was kept wide under a heady ride from David Flores, who knew he was on the best horse and kept his horse wide.

Sent off as the 11-to-10 favorite, Becrux was next to last early under patient handling, was allowed to move up 4 wide into the lane, then outsprinted his competition to the wire to score by a neck under topweight of 123 pounds. Becrux conceded from 5 to 11 pounds to his rivals.

The $54,231 winning purse swelled the international runner's career earnings to $928,919. He was winning a stakes race for a third consecutive season at Del Mar, having captured the Oceanside Stakes and Wickerr Handicap the two previous seasons.

Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, said "Gary Barber and I talked about this 2 weeks ago and we want Neil Drysdale to breeze Becrux twice on the Polytrack, after which we will decide whether to try him on the Polytrack in the $1-million Grade 1 Pacific Classic.

"He breezed exceptionally well last year at Woodbine. If he shows the same fondness for the Del Mar strip, we will go in the Classic, if not we will run in the mile race at Del Mar on grass, then send him up to defend his Woodbine Mile title in Canada."

Becrux is the eighth stakes winner to represent Team Valor in 2007.