Donamire Farm's homebred Twilight Road won Calder's $100,000 Memorial Day Handicap (gr. III) for the second consecutive year, defeating Whos Crying Now by three-quarters of a length. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Hear No Evil in third.Jockey Phil Teator guided Twilight Road around the track in the 1 1/16 miles contest, racing off the pace set initially by Runnintothealter and bunched up with other horses in the second flight. Hear No Evil took command at the three-eighths pole and looked to be the winner turning for home. At the head of the stretch, Twilight Road was angled to the outside and asked for his run.In deep stretch, Twilight Road captured the lead and held off a fast closing Who Crying Now. The 8-year-old gelded son of Cahill Road covered the distance in 1:46.71 and, as the 3-to-5 favorite, paid $3.40, 2.60, and 2.20. Whos Crying Now paid $4.60 and $3.00, while Hear No Evil returned $3.80 for show. The victory increased Twilight Road's lifetime earnings to $847,428.
"He looked like he had some trouble today in the backstretch and wasn't going to fire today, but he just needed to get clear for a run in the stretch," said trainer David Fawkes. "He ran a big race in Texas (third last out in Texas Mile), but the stretch there doesn't fit his style as well as this track. He just loves it at Calder - the hot weather and all. We'll see what comes up for him -- turf or dirt -- and definitely would like to see him win the Miami Mile (to be run on Labor Day, Sept. 5) again." (Chart, Equibase)