Arapahoe Park: Lady Contender captures George Wafer Memorial

Lady Contender has advanced rapidly during the course of the Arapahoe Park meet. She won her debut by eight lengths on June 2, ran second in two subsequent allowances, then became a stakes winner Sunday in the $40,000 George Wafer Memorial.

Lady Contender ($9) was prominent throughout the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, tracking Expeditiously through an opening half-mile in 45.64 seconds and then going on to win by 1 1/4 lengths. She covered the distance on a track rated sloppy in 1:24.02.

Kelly Bridges rode Lady Contender, a daughter of Strong Contender who races for the partnership of Preston Neugebauer and trainer Stacey Rushton. Lady Contender has now won 2 of 4 starts and $35,000.

Hindu Kush finished second in the Wafer Memorial, while it was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third to Western Way. Cosmopolitan, the favorite, broke last and finished eighth in the Wafer Memorial.