Reluctant Full Mandate Wins Black Tie Affair

Padua Stables & Fog City Stables' Full Mandate rallied from last to take the lead at the eighth pole and hold off a game Bonus Pack to win the $100,000 Black Tie Affair Handicap by a neck Saturday at Arlington Park.

Rene Douglas was aboard the Steve Asmussen-trained son of A. P. Indy, who covered the nine furlongs in 1:50.24 over a track rated fast despite heavy overnight rain.

"He didn't want any part of running today," said Douglas, who won 11stakes races here last year. "I knew he was going slow, but I couldn't make him run. I never gave up. At the five-eighths pole, I tried to get him going. Once he got going, the last jockey I wanted to meet was Earlie Fires (aboard Bonus Pack) because he's a tough jockey and strong at the end. I knew I'd have to ride really hard. I was happy to win the race."

The Black Tie Affair was the third straight win and first stakes victory for the 4-year-old colt, who earned $60,000 to boost his bankroll to $191,573. His record stands at five wins and three seconds from 12 starts.

Bonus Pack, also far back early, angled four wide in the lane, took a short lead in deep stretch and finished gamely but was unable to hold of the winner.

"He ran real well, he just got a little outfooted the last eighth of a mile," said Hall-of-Fame jockey Earlie Fires of Bonus Pack, the 19-10 post time favorite. Actually, I still thought I had a chance to come back and get him (the winner) because my horse kept running hard, but it didn't quite work out that way."

Woodmoon was third in the seven-horse field.

Full Mandate paid $8.60, $4.40 and $2.80. Bonus Pack returned $4.40 and $2.40. Woodmoon paid $2.40.

(Chart, Equibase)