Fantastic Spain split foes midstretch and surged to a neck victory over 4-to-5 favorite Notable Guest to earn his first graded stakes victory in the $191,400 Golden Gate Fields Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) on Monday. The seven-year-old Fantastic Fellow horse was unhurried early on, racing in seventh through a quarter-mile while Now Victory surged to a clear lead along the inside to run six furlongs in 1:12.89.

Now Victory led by seven lengths until Railroad made a move on the far turn and overtook that opponent before tiring in the lane.

Fantastic Spain remained in seventh entering the stretch and was more than 7 1/2 lengths off the pace. Fantastic Spain then dug in with determination, rallying two wide entering the stretch and drove between Now Victory and leader Notable Guest to take command inside the sixteenth pole.

Under a strong drive by jockey Chad Schvaneveldt, Fantastic Spain quickly surged to win the 1 3/8-mile race on firm turf in 2:17.64.

Notable Guest, an English Group 3 winner who is winless in five starts in the United States, held on to finish second, two lengths in front of Macduff (GB). Railroad tired to finish second to last in the eight-horse field.

A half brother to 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Spain, Fantastic Spain entered off a fifth-place finish in an allowance race at Hollywood Park on April 26 for trainer Neil Drysdale and owners David Bienstock and Charles Winner.

Fantastic Spain came close to a graded stakes victory in his season finale in the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap (G3) on October 28, finishing second to Flamethrowintexan by a head.

Fantastic Spain improved to five wins from 15 career starts to increase his earnings to $359,808. He is out of the Regal and Royal mare Drina.

Source www.thoroughbredtimes.com