The favored El Seventyseven ($4.40) finished powerfully to mow down the pacesetting duo of Rockin Home and Castletown for a 1 3/4- length win in Monday's $75,000 Honor the Hero, a five-furlong sprint over a good turf course.
Trained by Mac Robertson, El Seventyseven responded to the cue from jockey Leandro Goncalves to reel in the leaders after bumping fourth-place finisher Silver Lining John in the final furlong. Eventually, El Seventyseven survived a trainer's claim of foul by Silver Lining John's conditioner, Tammy Domenosky. The gritty Rockin Home won a prolonged battle for second by a head over Castletown.
El Seventyseven, a 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding was winning for the third time in a row, earned his first stakes win, and collected $45,000 for Novogratz Racing Stables. He covered the five furlongs in 57.36 seconds.