Clouds Don't Stop Pollard's Vision in Richards

Pollard's Vision, ridden for the first time by Jerry Bailey, drove past a stubborn Britt's Jules with 70 yards to go and pulled away to win the $250,000 Leonard Richards (gr. III) for 3-year-olds on a sloppy Delaware Park track Sunday.

The 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Carson City returned to the winner's circle for trainer Todd Pletcher for the first time since winning the Illinois Derby (gr. II) April 3 at Hawthorne.

Pollard's Vision, the even-money favorite in a field of seven, completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43 4/5 on sloppy going. Britt's Jules, who shipped in from Louisiana Downs, was two lengths behind. Ridden by Guy Smith, Britt's Jules was a half-length in front of second choice Pies Prospect, with Norberto Arroyo aboard.

Britt's Jules, who was coming off a 6 3/4-lengths win in the Excalibur on a Louisiana Downs off-track June 26, splashed away to open by four lengths on the field down the backstretch, remaining in firm command through fractions of :22 4/5, :46 2/5 and 1:11. Pollards's Vision and Pies Prospect, stalking while off the rail, moved into postion on the far turn. But it appeared that Pies Prospect was going the better of the two as they squared away for the stretch run.

Bailey stayed busy on Pollard's Vision in the stretch as Pies Prospect hung in mid-stretch, and Pollard's Vision eventually passed the tiring Britt's Jules after a mile in 1:37 1/5, pulling away at the end.

Pollard's Vision followed his Illinois Derby win with a 17th place finish in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) on a sloppy track May 1 after contesting the early pace at odds of 24-1. He returned June 12 with a second-place finish in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown, three lengths behind Brass Hat.

Overall, Pollard's Vision is 4-3-3 in 13 lifetime starts with earnings of $665,811 for owner Edgewood Farm. The winner was bought for $70,000 at Keeneland in April 2003.

Pollard's Vision paid $4, $3.20 and $2.10. Britt's Jules, sent off at 13-1, returned $7.40 and $2.80, completing a $46.80 exacta. Pies Prospect was $2.20 to show.

Joe Six Pack, Trieste's Honor, Gmork and Dashboard Drummer trailed. Ecclesiastic and Big City Spender scratched.

(Chart, Equibase)