BY BROCK SHERIDAN
APRIL 11, 1996—Glen Hill Farm homebred Concept Win ventured outside California for the first time to produce a front-running victory in the $150,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (Grade 3) at Oaklawn Park as the 116-pound highweight. It was the third graded-stakes victory for the 6-year-old son of Manila, who had previously taken the 1994 Palos Verdes Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita and the 1995 Triple Bend Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park.
The Count Fleet was the first and only time Concept Win had been saddled by trainer Thomas Proctor, whose father Willard Proctor, conditioned the horse for other 29 races in his career.
Reuniting with jockey Gary Stevens for the first time since winning the Palos Verdes, six races and 14 months earlier, Concept Win was giving away between one and five pounds to his six opponents in the six-furlongs Count Fleet.
Concept Win was contested by 17-1 longshot Kirby B through a rapid quarter mile in :21.35 before getting away to a length advantage around the turn with a :44.53 half mile. Kirby B surrendered at the top of the stretch before Hot Springs Stakes-winner Roythelittleone took up the challenge in second with a furlong to run. Despite the fast early pace, Concept Win had plenty left to win by a length-and-a-quarter in a final time of 1:09.06 on the fast track. Roythelittleone was second with Spiritbound a neck off him in third.
Concept Win paid $4.20 as the even-money favorite.
It was the ninth win, sixth in a stakes, in 26 starts at that point for Concept Win, who increased his earnings to $525,370. The Count Fleet was also his last victory before he retired four races later with nine wins, seven seconds and four thirds and earnings of $621,498.
Concept Win was the seventh foal out of Glen Hill Farm’s homebred and graded stakes-placed mare Conveniently, by In Reality. She also produced Florida-bred stakes winners Comparability with What a Pleasure, Earn Your Stripes with Little Current and Major Impact, by Roberto.
Glen Hill Farm was owned by Leonard Lavin, founder and chairman of the board of the Alberto-Culver Company and inducted into the FTBOA Hall of Fame in 2025.
Return to the April 11 issue of Wire to Wire
