(Chart, Equibase)
Bellamy Road went wire-to-wire and pulled a minor upset Monday in the Miller Genuine Draft Cradle Stakes (gr. III) for 2-year-olds at River Downs.Scipion, a $1.9 million buyback who broke his maiden at Saratoga, was made the 3-5 favorite but it was Bellamy Road who made all the running in the $200,000 stakes. Abel Castellano Jr. shot the son of Concerto out of the gate and he easily ran his record to two-for-two for trainer Michael Dickinson and owner George Steinbrenner's Kinsman Stable.Bellamy Road broke his maiden at Delaware Park on Aug. 3 by 7 ½ lengths. In the Cradle, he opened up by four as the field turned for home in the 1 1/16-mile race and coasted home in 1:45.Scipion was on the rail for most of the race, sitting in second or third through slow early fractions. He came off the rail down the stretch but could not close ground, Diamond Isle holding him off for second. Scipion finished third. Edgar Prado rode Scipion for trainer Patrick Biancone.Scipion, a half-brother to Vindication, was bought back by his breeder, Virginia Kraft Payson, at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.Bellamy Road, out of the Deputed Testamony mare Hurry Home Hillary and bred in Florida by Dianne Cotter, was purchased for $87,000 at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April sale. He paid $6.40, $3.60 and $2.10. Diamond Isle, the third choice in the wagering, paid $3.60 and $2.10, while Scipion returned $2.10.