Love of Money Pays Off in Pennsylvania Derby

Making his stakes debut, little known Love of Money put Pollard's Vision away in the stretch and romped to a smashing 8 1/2-length victory in the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) at Philadelphia Park Monday.

Ridden by Robby Albarado, the Maryland-bred Love of Money blew off the far turn to leave Pollard's Vision well behind in the stretch run. Swingforthefences came on for third in the 12-horse field. The final time for the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds was 1:48 2/5 on a fast track.

Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Tapit, the lukewarm 3-1 favorite, overcame his outside post to be in striking position in fourth on the far turn, but failed to fire in the final furlong, fading to ninth.

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. for Jay Em Ess Stable, Love of Money, sent off at odds of 12-1, was not only making his stakes debut, but was trying two turns for the first time as well. He was coming off a six-length win in a first-level seven-furlong allowance race in sloppy conditions at Saratoga in his third career start.

Pollards' Vision, with John Velazquez aboard, and Love of Money got away best as My Snookie's Boy, expected to be a pace factor at odds of 7-2, missed the break from his rail post position when he reared slightly coming away. Pollard's Vision led into the first turn but Love of Money, a little tough to control early, soon took took the lead. They completed the first quarter-mile in a comfortable :23 3/5.

Albarado quickly got the Not For Love colt straightened out on the inside and they maintained the lead over Pollard's Vision on the backstretch while clicking off fractions of :47 3/5 and 1:11 1/5. Bearing out on the far turn, Love of Money recovered to cut the corner effectively and was well clear through the stretch. He was roused once in mid-stretch by Albarado, who had rode him from there.

Swingforthefences, 20-1, was a length behind Pollard's Vision.

Queen's Plate winner Niigon, 25-1, who finished fourth, completed a $1 superfecta paying $8,298.70.

My Snookie's Boy, moved up along the inside by Stewart Elliott after the poor start to be fifth on the backstretch, was never able to get involved and finished 10th.

Pollard's Vision, the second choice along with My Snookie's Boy at 7-2, was making his sixth start in a derby this season.

By contrast, Love of Money debuted with a six-length maiden win at Belmont Park June 12, then ran second in a Belmont allowance July 9. In his win at Saratoga, he covered the seven furlongs in the sloppy going in 1:22 3/5. Monday's victory was worth $450,000.

A $70,000 buy as a yearling, Love of Money is out of the dam Mescalina, by Smarten. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Sutton were the breeders.

He paid $27.40, $12.40 and $9. Pollards' Vision returned $6 and $4, completing a $120 exacta. Swingforthefences ($9.20) rounded out a $1,299.20 $1 trifecta.

Pie's Prospect finished behind Niigon in fifth, followed by Separato, Song of the Sword, Royal Assault, Tapit, My Snookie's Boy, Wimplestiltskin and Master David.

(Chart, Equibase)