ARCADIA, Calif. -- Mike Machowsky, the trainer of Caracortado, had given up on his horse. So too had track announcer Trevor Denman, who said Caracortado was not firing. But neither jockey Rafael Bejarano nor, most importantly, Caracortado, thought all was lost, and he displayed a breathtaking, last-to-first rush in the stretch to capture the Grade 3, $98,000 Daytona Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Caracortado, ridden for the first time by Rafael Bejarano, makes up a six-length deficit in the final furlong to win the Dayona.t
Caracortado ($5.80), who was officially 13 lengths back a half-mile into the downhill turf sprint, and more than six lengths back with a furlong to go, roared past his three rivals to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Victory Pete. Mr. Gruff and Regally Ready, the Breeders
