Bonapaw Digs in to Capture Count Fleet

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Bonapaw went to the lead and never looked back Thursday, capturing the grade III Count Fleet Sprint H. in convincing fashion by 4 3/4 lengths at Oaklawn. Under Gerard Melancon, Bonapaw's clock-stopping 1:08.18 for the six furlongs set a stakes record. The 5-year-old son of Sabona is owned by Jim and Dennis Richard, and was bred in Kentucky by Dr. William O. Reed.

Trained by Howard Alonzo, Bonapaw returned $12 to his backers as the third-betting choice. Race favorite Bidis was well back in third, a neck behind runner-up Chindi.

"He has trained so well in New Orleans," said Alonzo. "I knew the tough races he had been in there hadn't taken much out of him, but I was concerned if he would take to the track here, which obviously he did. He fractured a sesamoid as a young horse and was off 15 months, then came back real strong."

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