Alert the Press remains perfect at Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. - Alert the Press shook off a challenge into the far turn by 6-5 favorite Brenda's Wampum and drew off for a 5 1/4-length win in the $29,350 Capitol City Futurity as Lincoln Race Course closed out its season Sunday afternoon.

A field of eight 2-year-olds went to the gate in the six-furlong dash but it soon turned into a match race between the top two finishers. Alert the Press, ridden by Chris Fackler, opened a clear lead in the opening quarter-mile then was given a good breather heading up the backstretch as Brenda's Wampum, ridden by Shane Laviolette, made her bid. Alert the Press shook off that challenge nearing the stretch and drew off for the win in 1:15.60 over a fast track. Brenda's Wampum was 14 lengths in front of third-place finisher Ra Ra Penteli.

Alert the Press returned $9.60 as the third choice and combined with Brenda's Wampum for a 3-4 exacta worth $20.60. The win was the second in as many career starts for Alert the Press, who is trained by Rodney Davis. A Florida-bred son of Mass Media, Alert the Press broke his maiden here July 10 going a half-mile when he drew off under a hand ride to win by over five lengths.