Gold Rush IV
Saturday April 26, 2003

$250,000 Citibank Snow Chief Stakes
CHIEF PLANNER

Chief Planner Benoit Photo

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Apr. 26, 2003) -- Chief Planner took to the added distance Saturday with an impressive seven-length win in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, the featured event on the $1.3 million California Gold Rush Day card at Hollywood Park.

Chief Planner is by General Meeting, out of the Fappiano mare Flag of Freedom, and was bred by Mr. and Mrs. John Mabee. In his first two-turn start, he ran the 1 1/8 miles in a stakes-record 1:49.12. The previous record was 1:50 1/5, set by Cliquot in 1999 and Grey Memo in 2000.

"I was just waiting for this horse to go long," said jockey David Flores. "He finished really strong without even trying. He definitely has a future. I'd been waiting for this and I'm glad I was on him."

Chief Planner is owned by Golden Eagle Farm and trained by Bob Baffert.

Chief Planner, the second choice in the wagering with only a maiden win in six previous races, rode the rail and blew past Uncle Jack and 124-pound high weight Excessivepleasure turning for home, then drew off willingly. He went off as the 9-5 second choice. Favored Excessivepleasure was second and Tiz A Coup was third.

The $150,000 first-place purse raised Chief Planner's career earnings to $267,796. He earlier had finished second in the Grade III Best Pal Stakes and third in the Grade II Del Mar Futurity and the Grade III Hollywood Juvenile Championship.

Bold N Broke, who was off slowly, broke both knees and fell at the half-mile pole, unseating rider Mike Smith, who took off his next mount.

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