LAPN Sprint

2/4/2012   DED   Race #5   5f   Dirt   Stake

Purse $100.000 For Four-Year Olds And Upward Foaled In LA

It rained on the first day ever of an all statebred stakes race card at DED this Saturday. Still, the fans poured in to watch the action and cheered each winner as they crossed the line. Some of the loudest cheers went up for Bound For Victory. The Riggins Racing gelding slugged it out up front all the way with before pulling away to win by a length. Royal Abs finished second while longshot Sexy Letters took home the show money.

A three-horse rocket break start saw Bound For Victory a half-length in front while sandwiched between Royal Abs on the rail and Sexy Letters to his outside. Montpelier raced three lengths back with Goodnight Saigon trailing two lengths behind.

Bound For Victory continued to lead by a half-length as the field turned for home. Royal Abs and Sexy Letters stuck to his sides like glue. Montpelier fell back to three behind while appearing to struggle with the sloppy going. Meanwhile, early trailer Goodnight Saigon moved up on the rail alongside Montpelier as he looked to rally.

Just into the bend, Royal Abs and Sexy Letters drew alongside Bound For Victory. The three engaged in a thrilling head-bobbing fight for the lead as the crowd jumped to their feet and roared for their favorites. Royal Abs took over the lead at one point and for a moment, it almost seemed as if Bound For Victory would give way. Instead, the big bay pushed back hard and soon had a nose in front of the two gray geldings pasted to his sides once more.  Still trailing the front-runners by day light, neither Montpelier nor Goodnight Saigon appeared to handle the slop.  It was clearly now a three horse race between Bound For Victory, Royal Abs and Sexy Letters.

The trio continued their dash for the cash down the straight until midway through. Like booster rockets on the space shuttle, first Sexy Letters and then Roy Abs peeled away and fell back. Bound For Victory ran off to win by one length over Royal Abs, with Sexy Letters third one length behind him.

Bound For Victory is a five-year-old autogen gelding. Owner Riggins Racing developed the tall bay, only to lose him in a $15.000 claimer in May of 2011. His next stop was the auction ring, where Bound For Victory sold for $5.000 to Halo Thoroughbreds in August of 2011. Riggins Racing reclaimed the talented sprinter for $15.000 the following month. Since switching silks, Bound For Victory won all his last four races including his first stakes victory today in the LAPN Sprint. His record now improves to 26-12-6-3 with $257.750 in earnings.

Track: Sloppy
Time: :23 :46⁴ :59²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 - 2 Paid 13.00
$1 Trifecta: 3 - 2 - 4 Paid 181.60

Scratched: None