Bird Town Edges Lady Tak in Exciting Acorn

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Bird Town made the lead as they came out of the turn, and then held off a late charge from Lady Tak to win the Acorn Stakes (gr. I) Friday at Belmont Park. It was the second straight grade I win for Bird Town, who won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) the day before the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Bird Town stumbled out of the gate in the Oaks, then had to swing wide to get the win. In the Acorn, she broke alertly and jockey Edgar Prado sent her to the lead where she battled early with Randaroo.

Lady Tak was in between horses down the backside of the nine-furlong one-turn race. Jerry Bailey had to ease her back, then come wide for a run at the victory. Bailey and Lady Tak were closing with every stride, but Bird Town hung tough to eek out the head win.

A length behind Lady Tak was Final Round in third.

Favored Storm Flag Flying, last year's juvenile champion filly, was very disappointing. She was in fourth early but never fired at all. She finished next to last.

Unbeaten in four starts last year, Storm Flag Flying ran second in her first start of 2003, an April 18 allowance race at Aqueduct.

Bird Town was bred in Kentucky by her owner, Marylou Whitney. She is trained by Nick Zito. The 3-year-old filly is by Cape Town out of the Storm Bird mare Dear Birdie.

Bird Town has won four of nine lifetime starts and never been worse than third. She ran the distance in 1:35.29 after fractions of :23.41, :46.35, and 1:10.40.

There is an Acorn/Belmont Daily Double. The possible payoffs are: with Empire Maker, $20; Supervisor, $798; Scrimshaw, $359; Funny Cide, $15; Dynever, $43; and Ten Most Wanted, $108.

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