Courtesy of the TDN

ULTIMATE EAGLE, c, 3, by Mizzen Mast – Letithappencaptain by Captain Bodgit had been unbeatable since taking to the turf two starts back, but that didn’t give the handicappers any sense of confidence. The dark bay was ignored at 34-1, but, blind to the tote board, pulled off the upset.

On the board in a pair of maiden special weight sprints on the Hollywood Cushion in the spring, he ran fifth when stretched to two turns June 18. Connections decided to switch it up next time out, adding blinkers and putting him on the turf, and Ultimate Eagle responded with a head score at Del Mar July 31. He added a front-running victory in an optional claimer Sept. 3, and was trying black-type company for the first time here.

The outsider broke sharply and had his white-hooded head in front as they swept past the wire for the first time. He cut out splits of :23.27, :47.09 and 1:10.53 while pressed by Midnight Interlude, then opened up when given the green light early on the turn. Foreign raider Venomous came charging through the field and Lil Bit O’Fun rallied on the outside in deep stretch, but the wire came in time for Ultimate Eagle. Trainer Mike Pender was one who was not surprised by the outcome. “This was our Kentucky Derby horse before he got colic as a 2-year-old,” Pender explained. “It’s a miracle he’s even here. It would make a great story.”

Owner B. J. Wright of Pasadena is the chairman of LifeSource Water Systems, which specializes in residential and commercial water filtration systems. The eco-friendly company was established in 1984.