Vicky Schowe’s homebred Sloane Ranger upset the $150,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap by a neck at Parx Racing June 23, winning the seven-furlong event gate-to-wire under jockey Frankie Pennington Jr. (VIDEO)
Toby's Corner, winner of the 2011 Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I), finished fourth as the 13-10 favorite.
Sloane Ranger, a 9-1 shot coming off a June 8 victory in an allowance optional claimer at Monmouth Park for trainer Martin Ciresa, was first out of the gate in a field of six older horses. He got an easy lead through a quarter in :23.44 while followed by Ponzi Scheme, then went the half in :46.21 as Toby’s Corner ranged up in second.
The Wood Memorial winner could not challenge, however, and swung wide off the turn into the center of the track as Sloane Ranger held his lead through three-quarters in 1:10.47. Golddigger's Boy loomed up dangerously at mid-stretch, but the frontrunner held on to get the victory.
It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Rod's Five Star, who made a gradual gain in the stretch to pass Toby’s Corner for third behind a final time of 1:23.03. Ponzi Scheme, the 9-5 second choie, and Hobbitontherocks completed the order of finish.
Sloane Ranger returned $21.60, $8.20, and $4.20. A Pennsylvania-bred son of Parker's Storm Cat out of the You and I mare Toppenish, he was making the 28th start of his career and improved his record to 7-6-6 with earnings of $440,472. His only other stakes victory is a score in the 2011 Maryland Million Sprint Handicap at Laurel Park.
Golddigger's Boy returned $4.80 and $3.40. The $2 exacta was worth $97.20. Rod's Five Star paid $3.80.
Royal Currier and Spin Zone were stewards scratches.
