Former Claimer Wins Bay Meadows Handicap

Richard Englander's Devine Wind collared pacesetter River Keen in the stretch and drew away to a one-length win over Irish Prize in the $200,000 Bay Meadows Handicap (gr. IIIT) Saturday at Bay Meadows. Under Garrett Gomez, Devine Wind completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.19 over firm turf.

River Keen set comfortable fractions of :48.99 and 1:13.21 and led the field into the stretch but faded in the final stages as the pace quickened. Deploy Venture came home third, followed by Casino King, River Keen, and Prize Giving.

Claimed for $40,000 at Hollywood Park in May, Devine Wind (American Chance--Hail Babe, Within Hail) earned $110,000 and his first stakes victory with the win. Previous to Saturday's race, the 4-year-old gelding finished second in a restricted stakes at Del Mar. The Bay Meadows Handicap win is his fourth in 11 starts. Devine Wind is trained by Nick Canani and was bred in Kentucky by Paul Tackett and Clark Cleveland.

Devine Wind returned $9, $3.80, and $2.20. The $1 exacta paid $13.60. (Chart, Equibase)