Dolphus Morrison's homebred Gold Edge remained unbeaten in three starts when she inched by La Song in the final yards to win the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (gr. III) by a neck Sept. 8 at Arlington Park (VIDEO).
With Chris Emigh aboard, Gold Edge was timed in 1:37.96 in the one-turn mile test for 2-year-old fillies while defeating 36-1 La Song in a terrific finish. Dancinginthecircle, who rallied late along the rail, was a tough-luck third, just a nose farther behind.
Gold Edge, trained by Lon Wiggins, was overlooked in the wagering at 10-1 odds in the field of 13. The Eddington filly won the minor Lisa M Stakes Aug. 4 over Arlington's main track and had worked well over the track since then, including a five-furlong breeze of 1:00 4/5 Sept. 3.
“I wasn’t sure we were going to get there until the last couple of jumps,” said Emigh. “She’s been training so good (since her last race). I knew she might get beat but they were really going to have to run to beat her. She’s been training awesome, and she tries her heart out.”
You Bought Her stumbled at the top of the stretch after clipping heels in the one-turn mile Polytrack event for 2-year-old fillies, and sent jockey Julio Felix sprawling. The daughter of Graeme Hall walked off the course under her own power, while Felix was taken to Northwest Community Hospital for x-rays.
Recent Arlington maiden winner Flying Rapunzel was made the 5-2 favorite in the big Lassie field, with Pappascat sent off at 7-2.
Gold Edge outfought La Song for the early lead and those two took the field along through a swift opening quarter of :22.89 and a half in :45.65. La Song took a the advantage over the stalkers Pappascat and Flying Rapunzel as Gold Edge dropped back a bit as they clipped off six furlongs in 1:10.68.
La Song, ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez, showed no signs of letting up in the homestretch as Gold Edge came back on to challenge on her outside. La Song, attempting to give trainer Wayne Catalano his third win in the Arlington-Washington Lassie, battled gamely to the wire but could not hold off Gold Edge in the final couple of strides.
Dancinginthecircle, ridden by Rosemary Homeister Jr., was a clear third by 2 1/2 lengths over Custody. Then came Pappascat, Bridgette Bordeaux, American Sugar, Dancing Elliebelle, Flying Rapunzel, Quiet Success, Bethany Belle, and Sweet Redemption. Following a stewards' inquiry, American Sugar was disqualified for causing interference prior to the fall of You Bought Her and placed last.
The winning Morrison homebred broke her maiden by 2 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs June 24 in the only other start of her career. The chestnut filly is out of the Pioneering mare Gold Spike, a 10-time winner of $247,126 from 56 starts.
Gold Edge, who will be part of Morrison's stock dispersal at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale in Lexington Nov. 6-16, earned $82,800 for the victory to bring her current bankroll to $138,429.
She carried 119 pounds and paid $23.40, $11.60, and $7 as fifth choice. La Song returned $25.40 and $12 and was good for part of a $777.60 exacta. Dancinginthecircle was $9 to show and completed a $1 trifecta of $4,194.90. The 10-cent superfecta was worth $5,335.99.