Trainer Kopites recent purchase of Lincoln Duncan, paid off as the colt

went wire to wire and set a new stakes record to win the $100.000 Sun

Power at Hawthorne Saturday, for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Kopites purchased the two-year-old colt by HRP-New Providence, just

five days ago, for $130.000 from former trainer, Mb Stables, and Lincoln

Duncan has almost paid for half of his sale price after just one start.

Lincoln Duncan went gate to wire to win by one length, and ran the 6F

race over the fast dirt at Hawthorne, in a final time of 1:10.15, which is a

new stakes record for the Sun Power. He earned trainer Kopites $60.000

for his win, giving him lifetime earnings of $79.350, and a race record

of 4-2-1-0.

Saratoga Holiday, sent off at 999-1 finished 2nd, earning $20.000 for his

trainer Captinj, while Bungalow Candy was 3rd, taking home $16.000 for

Running Farms.

Official Order of Finish:

How the race was run:

2   Lincoln Duncan: Won by one length. Was sent to

     the lead after the break, where he led by nose at the

     quarter pole. At the 1/2 mile mark, was locked in a

     speed duel with the 3 horse, and the two exchanged

     the lead several times before Lincoln Duncan shook

     loose of the 3 horse at the 5/8 mark, and was able

     to pull a length in front for the win.

    -Ran a fantastic race here for new trainer Kopites, after

     just three weeks off since his last start. Looked as if

     the 3 horse had him, but Lincoln Duncan fought back,

     and was able to finish strong, pulling away. One to look

     for in future races, he could get really good.

3   Saratoga Holiday: Finished in 2nd, one lengths back

     from the winner. ran in 2nd early, and was just a nose

     behind the leader at the quarter pole. At the 1/2 mile,

     had caught the leader, and the two exchanged the lead

     several times in a fierce speed duel. Near the 5/8 pole,

     Saratoga Holiday began to get tired, and could not go

     on with the 2 horse, who pulled in front by a length at

     the wire, and Saratoga Holiday had to settle for 2nd.

    -Sent off at 999-1, Saratoga Holiday ran a great race

     here. Likely the speed duel he got into with eventual

     winner for the lead near the 1/2 mile took a toll on him,

     causing him to tire at the end, but ran well, nonetheless.

     One to watch, as he looks like a horse who could get

     even better with maturity.

4   Bungalow Candy: Finished in 3rd, two lengths from

     the winner. Ran 3rd, the entire race, and was a length

     off the lead early. At the 1/2 mile pole, began to look

     a little leg weary, and dropped back to two lengths

     from the lead, which is where he was at the wire to

     finish 3rd.

    -Ran a nice race here for his first career stakes race.

     Looked a bit green coming down the stretch, as he

     drifted out slightly, which could have been the reason

     he began to tire at the 1/2 mile pole. Mile turf work was

     two full seconds faster than his recent dirt mile work,

     so we may see him make a switch to the grass next

     time out.

1   Spearfire Lad: Finished 4th, two lengths behind the

     winner, and just a neck behind the 3rd place finisher.

     Ran 4th the entire race, and was one length off the lead

     early. At the quarter pole looked full of run, and appeared

     he had to slow a bit to avoid leader in front of him on the

     rail. At the 1/2 mile pole, came out wide to go around

     horses, and was gaining some ground on the leaders

     at the 5/8 pole, but ran out of time.

    -Think the traffic, and having to go wide may have cost

     Spearfire Lad here. Was closing well at the end, but

     could not catch the front-runners. Looks like he may

     want more distance, and with his sharp turf works, we

     could see him stretch out and switch to the grass for

     his next start.