Sgt. Bert Sets Keeneland Turf Mark in Woodford

Outsider Sgt. Bert set a Keeneland course record for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf Sunday while winning the $114,600 Woodford Stakes for the second year in a row.

Sgt. Bert, who snapped a 10-race losing streak since last year's Woodford, ran the distance in 1:01.67, eclipsing the previous course mark of 1:02.47 set by Steal a Heart in 2000.

Rafael Bejarano rode the winner, who paid $30.60, $12.20 and $7.20. It was a half-length to runner-up T.D. Vance ($3.80, $3), the 17-10 favorite, with Pretty Jane ($6.60) another four lengths back in third place.

Gary Montgomery trains Sgt. Bert, a 5-year-old Confide gelding, for owners Gary C. Edelen and Fred Preuss Jr. Sgt. Bert earned $71,052 for his sixth win in 26 starts and has now banked $312,421.

Sgt. Bert won last year's Woodford by a neck over Atticus Kristy.

Attendance for the first three days of Keeneland's 17-day fall meeting totaled 62,454, a record for opening weekend in the autumn. The previous high was 60,825 in 2004. The opening of Keeneland's fall meeting was moved to a Friday in 2001. Sunday's attendance totaled 14,994.

(Chart, Equibase)