Anne's Purse takes Rainbow Connection

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Anne's Purse, the public's second choice behind the heavily favored Bent Attorney, came up with a mild upset to win the five-furlong $125,000 Rainbow Connection Stakes on a humid Sunday afternoon at the Fort.

The turf course, listed as good, may have been deeper than thought, as winning rider Gerry Olguin noted that his 4-year-old filly took a while to get the ground under her feet. On the rail into the stretch, Olguin angled her out and near the furlong pole, surged to the lead, and was going away at the wire. Anne's Purse paid $6.80 to win.

Anne's Purse, trained by Robert Barnett and owned by Big C. Little C. Stable, is now a winner of four races in eight starts, and today added $75,000 to her bankroll, boosting it to just under $300,000.

Koonunga Hill, four wide in the early going, backed off on the turn then put in a good outside effort in the stretch to complete the exactor payoff of $66.70. Longshot Bold Maneuver topped off a $537 triactor as she came from the trailing position turning for home to finish with good energy between foes.

Bent Attorney battled three wide into the stretch then faded. She did not appear to relish the soft going.