Wickerr offers up thrilling three-horse photo

Wednesday's Wickerr S. at Del Mar provided an exciting finish as three runners hit the line at the same time.

Winning Prize has faced graded rivals in nine of his last 10 races, but dropped back to this stakes after a pair of fourth-placings in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) and American S. (G3). Like in those two events, the six-year-old led the way up front but had plenty of company in the form of stakes debuter Kulik Lodge to his inside.

Wilkinson kept in contact with the leading pair just in behind and to the outside, while Pure Tactics tracked in the second flight.

Kulik Lodge exited the gates the 5-2 favorite but just couldn’t keep pace with Winning Prize entering the second turn. Wilkinson, on the other hand, ranged up outside and was soon joined by Pure Tactics.

That set up for an exciting, but short, stretch drive. Pure Tactics got the head-bobbing win on the wire while Winning Prize took second over Wilkinson. Global View came in fourth and Kulik Lodge wound up fifth.

Pure Tactics finished a mile over Del Mar’s firm turf in 1:34.78 with jockey Flavien Prat aboard. The Doug O’Neill pupil earned his first win since taking the Clocker’s Corner S at Santa Anita Park in late January.

The six-year-old bay just missed by a head when third last out in the May 31 Siren Lure S., a race he captured in 2014, and is now 3-2-0-0 at Del Mar.

Pure Tactics photo courtesy of Benoit Photos