Citizen, ridden by Jon Court, rallied along the inside to open a wide lead in the stretch and then held on by a head over fast-closing Flying Private in the $50,000 Mountain Valley Stakes at odds of 29-1 Feb. 28 at Oaklawn Park.
Citizen, a Kentucky-bred son of City Zip, earned his second stakes victory and third win overall in 10 starts. He has earned $96,481 for owners L.T.B. Inc. and Naveed Chowhan. Bernie Flint is the winning conditioner. Citizen paid $60, $22.80, and $17.80.
The six-furlong contest for 3-year-olds was completed in 1:11.62. Lyin' Heart finished third, three-quarters of a length behind, with 6-5 favorite Dance Caller a neck back in fourth.
Big Push, Citizen, and Doc Posse vied for the lead three abreast behind fractions of :22.24 and :45.56 before Citizen, who broke from the rail, edged away along the inside to open a three-length advantage at the eighth pole.
He narrowly held on, however, as the 15-1 shot Flying Private, forced to alter course when blocked by horses mid-stretch under Israel Ocampo, came flying late to just miss. Lyin' Hart, ridden by Quincy Hamilton, also lacked room and did not have enough of a response when in the clear.
The winner, bred by Stonerside Stable, is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Rachel's Star.
Flying Private completed a $2 exacta worth $387 while returning $12.40 and $10. The $1 trifecta with 4-1 shot Lyin' Heart ($6.20) was $1,593.70. The $1 superfecta, with the solid favorite Dance Caller fourth, paid $6,945.40.
Bertsgoldenmissile, Doc Posse, Big Push, and N.Y. Wise Guy completed the order.
Citizen (#1) fights for the win in the Mountain Valley.
Coady Photography