Compton Fills In, Wins With Sharky's Review

(from Prairie Meadows report)
Showing up helped make jockey Perry Compton a winner during Saturday's $68,600 Hawkeyes Handicap for fillies and mares at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.

Compton took advantage of Luis Quinonez's absence to guide Sharky's Review to a two-length win. Sharky's Review won the 1 1/16-mile race for the third straight year by running down One Fine Shweetie, who opened up an eight-length lead before being caught.

Sharky's Review drew clear in the stretch while responding to right-handed whip action from her rider in a time of 1:45.62.

The win was worth $42,000 for the daughter of Sharkey out of the dam Irish Review, raising Iowa's highest money earning female's career earnings to $676,013.

"I was very concerned. I thought we'd be a little closer because we haven't run in seven weeks," said winning trainer Mark Bader. "Usually the horse is a little fresher."

The winner is owned by Paul Tonderum, who had rider-related concerns entering the race for Iowa-bred females. Quinonez rode Sharky's Review in her last two starts then departed for Louisiana.

"Perry deserves all kinds of credit," Tonderum said. "I'm very disappointed the other jockey didn't show up after his agent shook my hand and said he'd be here. He guaranteed he'd be here two weeks ago."

Fast fractions kept One Fine Shweetie and jockey Rob Williams from challenging the 6-year-old winner late. The runner-up finisher opened up a huge lead while running the first half-mile in 46.94 seconds.

One Fine Shweetie had enough left to hold off O U Bet, who finished third.

The post time favorite at 4-to-5 odds, Sharky's Review paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.20. One Fine Shweetie returned $2.40 and $2.20. O U Bet paid $2.20 to show.

(Chart, Equibase)