Yolanda B. Too Wins Squan Song on DQ

(Edited Laurel Park report)
With half the field scratched out of Saturday's $50,000 Squan Song at muddy Laurel Park, the seven-furlong event looked like a lock for the prohibitive favorite Yolanda B. Too. But after 17-1 shot La Chica Rica beat her to the finish line, it took a disqualification to save the victory for chalk players.

La Chica Rica, with Oliver Castillo aboard, passed Yolanda B. Too and Jeremy Rose at the top of the lane and was driving to victory when she angled in front of the favorite. Her missteps forced Rose to check and steady Yolanda B. Too, who was a half-length behind at the wire. After listening to an objection by Rose, the stewards quickly reversed the order of finish, elevating the daughter of Two Punch to first and placing La Chica Rica to second.

Trained by Richard Violette Jr. for owner West Point Stable, Yolanda B. Too paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10, while La Chica Rica returning $6.80 and $4.80. Mint Landing, ridden by Mario Pino, was $3.60 to show. The winning time in the Maryland-bred test for fillies and mares was 1:25.28 over muddy going.

Yolanda B. Too came into the race with the most impressive credentials having competed in graded company five times in her career with a second, a third and two fourth place finishes. The Squan Song is her first added money score and pushed her earnings over the $300,000 mark.

Crown You, Patriots Image and Lady of Summer trailed. Scratched was Disco Disco Jan, Lucrezia, My Girlie, Sassy Hearted, Ursula's Passion and Vontay.

(Chart, Equibase)