'Legend, 'Cookie Win De La Rose Divisions

Personal Legend and Fast Cookie came from just off the pace to win split divisions of the De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday.

The first division of the feature for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up offered a purse of $66,800 while the second was worth $67,000

Ridden by Jerry Bailey, Personal Legend had an ideal trip to win by a head over Lentil, who had led nearly every step of the way before yielding to the winner in the first division.

Lentil took jockey Fernando Jara to the lead through splits of :24 3/5; :49; and 1:12 4/5 over the `good' going, as Bailey kept Personal Legend three places back on the hedge with the rail down.

When they straightened for the run home, Bailey eased Personal Legend to the outside. She responded with a furious rally, as did Vespers. Personal Legend got the victory, and Vespers wound up a neck back in third.

The Bobby Frankel-trained filly ran the mile in 1:36 3/5 over a turf course labeled good and paid $4.60, $3.30 and $2.90 as the 13-10 favorite in the eight horse field. Lentil returned $33 and $10.60 while Vespers finished a fast closing third, paying $6.20.

Personal Legend earned $40,080 while winning the first stakes victory of her career. A 4-year-old Awesome Again   filly, she has won four of 14 career starts and two of her last three since coming east.

(Chart, Equibase)

With Cornelio Velasquez aboard, Fast Cookie split horses at the top of the stretch, then edged clear through the final furlong to win by a length in the second division.

Fast Cookie paid $17.60, $5.70 and $3.50. She ran the mile in 1:37 1/5, earning $40,200.

A 4-year-old daughter of Deputy Minister trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Fast Cookie sat just off Feisty Bull, who loped on the `good' going in :25 1/5; :50 2/5 and 1:14 4/5.

Gradually eased to the lead on the final turn, she kicked in and held off favored Snowdrops and Super Brand for a three-quarter-length victory in 1:37 1/5 for her seventh victory in 20 career starts.

Snowdrops, the 7-5 favorite ridden by Edgar Prado, had a rough trip while trapped between horses before closing strongly to finish second by a nose. She returned $3.10 and $2.40. Super Brand was another nose back in third, paying $3.

(Chart, Equibase)