Eighth Wonder dominates Donna Freyer Stakes

Eighth Wonder put on a show in the $76,000 Donna Freyer Stakes at Parx Racing on Sunday, opening up a clear lead out of the gate and coasting home a 9 1/4-length winner without ever being asked for her best by jockey Jose Flores.

The Freyer was the second of two South Carolina residency stakes for 2-year-olds on the Parx card. To be eligible, horses had to have spent at least 90 days in South Carolina and have paid a $150 nomination fee to the South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Both stakes were run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Eighth Wonder is now undefeated in three starts with earnings of $126,000 for trainer Dee Curry and her owner-breeder, Gryphon Investments LLC. She won a Parx maiden race by 7 3/4 lengths Sept. 19, and a Parx allowance by five lengths on Oct. 27.

Eighth Wonder broke like a shot in the Freyer and was quickly in front by several lengths. Flores kept Eight Wonder well out in the track the entire race in what looked like a paid workout.

Eighth Wonder paid $2.40 to win and was timed in 1:18.81, which was .43 of a second slower than Big Louie D, winner of the Christopher Elser Memorial, the first division of the residency stakes, which was for males.

Kylbrylie broke slowly and then rallied to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Aye d’Eclaire, who was forwardly placed early while three wide.

Amour’s Charm also broke slowly before saving ground in the second flight. She finished fourth, 2 1/4 lengths behind Aye d’Eclaire.

Eighth Wonder is by Pioneerof the Nile and out of the mare Cheeksandpeanuts, a two-time stakes winner. Eighth Wonder is the sixth foal out of Cheeksandpeanuts. The first five are all multiple winners. Eighth Wonder is Cheeksandpeanuts’s first stakes winner and her fourth foal to earn more than $100,000.

Elser Memorial: Big Louis D scores front-running upset

Morning Fire was the 2-5 favorite in the $75,000 Christopher Elser Memorial, but Big Louie D was the fastest and scored a 4 1/2-length upset.

Big Louie D outsprinted Total Futbol, part of an Elkstone Group-owned entry, for the early lead, turned back three-wide Morning Fire nearing the stretch, and widened his advantage in the final furlong.

Big Louie D, trained by John Servis and owned by Alexandria Stables, paid $16.80 and was timed in 1:18.38. Joshua Navarro was aboard Big Louie D, who was his second winner from the first five races on the card.

Big Louie D, a son of Stormy Atlantic, is now 2 for 3 in his career. He finished second to eight-length winner Discreet Lover at Parx in his debut, then came back to win a maiden race by four lengths last time out.

Balk, part of the Elkstone entry, raced in a contending position outside Morning Fire while four wide on the far turn, and finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Morning Fire.

Haitian Hill broke slowly and finished fourth, beaten 13 1/4 lengths.

Halibut Cove stumbled at the start and was never a factor.