Acrolet Captures Challedon with Authority

The owner and trainer were nowhere to be found, but Acrolect showed up and trounced a field of Maryland-breds in today's $60,000 Challedon Stakes at Laurel Park.

The winner is owned by Mark Hopkins and trained by Michael Dickinson, the same team that captured the De Francis Dash (gr. I) last month with A Heuvo.

Acrolect broke alertly, stalked the lone speed and powered ahead at the top of the lane to win the seven-furlong test with authority in 1:22.59. Favorite Aggadan, at odds of 7-10, rallied for the place, 2 1/2 lengths behind of the winner. Implicit was third.

"I didn't think he could beat Aggadan," said Dickinson from his training center in Cecil County. "Acrolect is all heart and courage. He had never won a stake and he's six years old. I didn't think that was going to change. I would have been delighted for second and truly expected to finish third in this race."

The owner was in Miami and the conditioner sent one of his assistants to Laurel to saddle Acrolect. Jockey Jose Caraballo took his instructions over the telephone and then rode the bay gelding to an easy victory.

Acrolect paid $15.20 to win and topped a $42 exacta and $395.80 triple.

(Chart, Equibase)