Twilight Road Draws Off to Ack Ack Victory

Twilight Road withstood a challenge from Mountain General in the stretch of Sunday's Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill Downs Sunday and went on to a 2 /2-length victory.

With Pat Day aboard, the 5-year-old Cahill Road gelding was close to front-running Makors Mark in the opening :23.01 opening quarter-mile. He took the lead by the half (:46.35) before feeling pressure from the runner-up Mountain General. Donnie Meche rallied Mountain to the leader in mid-stretch with a nice move to split horses in mid-stretch, but could not get past.

Binthebest, the slight favorite in the field of nine, came on late to get third. The final time for the 7 1/2 furlong-sprint was 1:29.39.

Twilight Road snapped an eight-race losing streak.

Owned by Donamire Farm, who collected a winning purse of about $60,000, Twilight Road was bred in Kentucky by Mira Ball and is trained by Paul McGee. He won for the sixth time in 30 starts in his career and improved his bankroll to nearly $330,000.

Sent off at 5-2, Twilight Road paid $7.20, $4 and $2.40. Mountain General returned $5 and $2.80. Binthebest paid $2.40.

(Chart, Equibase)