Twilight Meteor Dusts Foes in Bourbon County

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(from Keeneland report)
Twilight Meteor collared favored Marcavelly with an eighth of a mile remaining and gradually pulled away to a 2 ¼-length victory in the $125,000 Woodford Reserve Bourbon County Stakes Friday at Keeneland.

Originally scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the race was moved to the same distance on the all-weather track following extensive rain. The final time was 1:43.25.

The pacesetting Marcavelly (:24, :47 4/5, 1:12 3/5) held on for second, a nose in front of third-place Admiral Bird. Head to Toe and Royal War Academy completed the field, which was reduced to five starters with the withdrawal of Tacticality and Inca King.

"You learn to ride the Polytrack just like you would the turf," said winning jockey John Velazquez. "(Twilight Meteor) seemed to handle it perfectly. He sat right up there with the leaders like he was very comfortable and responded right away. Just basically like a turf race."

Twilight Meteor won for the second time in four starts and earned $77,500 for John Fort's Peachtree Stable. The winner, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, has now earned $118,775.

Twilight Meteor, the second choice in the betting, paid $8.40, $3.80 and $2.60. Marcavelly, the early leader under jockey Edgar Prado, returned $3 and $2.10 and Admiral Bird paid $2.40.

(Chart, Equibase)

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