Jackson Bend wins Hal's Hope

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Jackson Bend overcame a bobble at the start to beat Sangaree by a length Saturday in the $100,000 Hal's Hope at Gulfstream Park.

The 5-year-old Jackson Bend, ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Nick Zito, ran a mile in 1:38.19 and paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.20 for his eighth victory in 23 starts.

"He stumbled leaving there, then had to sit there with nowhere to go until he found a place to run in the stretch, He's got a tremendous heart. He's very special,'' Zito said. "He has the guts of a lion.''

Jackson Bend was third in the 2010 Preakness.

"He didn't really stumble, but he didn't break that well. I was sort of biding my time around the turn,'' Velazquez said. "I didn't know if I should go inside or outside. But then I took the easy way out and said, `I'll just take him outside.' It worked out great.''

Sangaree returned $4.80 and $3.60, and Cool Blue Red Hot paid $7.80 to show.