Ak Sar Ben Derby surged in the final moments to clinch victory in the 54th edition of the $150,000 Hawthorne Derby held on Sunday.
A competitive field of 12 horses took on the 1 1/8-mile race on a firm turf course, with Oscar Season being installed as the 4-1 favourite in just his second career outing.
Baxley, starting from an outside position, managed to secure the lead shortly after the start, crossing the wire for the first time ahead of the pack. He maintained a brisk pace, clocking the opening quarter mile in 23.34 seconds, while T’Challa and Alotaluck closely pursued him. After slowing slightly to clock the half in 48.21 seconds, Baxley continued to lead, with Higgins Boat joining the fray as the race remained tightly contested.
As the field approached the three-quarter mark in 1:12.72, the runners began to fan out, seeking openings for the stretch run. At this point, Higgins Boat was just off Baxley’s flank, while Oscar Season, Tough Little Nut, and Ak Sar Ben Derby were also in close contention, eyeing opportunities for advancement. As the horses entered the stretch, Higgins Boat briefly took the lead, with Ak Sar Ben Derby and Tough Little Nut battling for space. Ultimately, Ak Sar Ben Derby, with jockey Axel Concepcion, found room to squeeze through first.
Baxley began to fade in the final moments, allowing Ak Sar Ben Derby to unleash his full power, crossing the finish line ahead of Higgins Boat by a head in a time of 1:49.30. Oscar Season finished a commendable third, while Telescopic made a late charge to take fourth place.
Trained by John Ortiz and owned by the Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust, Ak Sar Ben Derby earned $90,000 for this win. He was sent off at odds of 9-1, rewarding his backers with payouts of $20.40, $9.60, and $6.00. Higgins Boat returned $8.00 and $5.20, with Oscar Season paying $4.40 for the show.