Arlington: Miner's Gamble wins

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - It is almost not an exaggeration to call Miner's Gamble unbeatable in turf sprints. Miner's Gamble won the $54,750 Taylor's Special Handicap at Arlington by a neck, running his unbeaten streak in one-turn grass races to four.

A 5-year-old Prospector's Gamble gelding owned by Alan Drey, Miner's Gamble beat his stablemate, Bold Pilot, by a neck, completing a sweep of the top two places for trainer Dennis Ebert. It was another half-length back to Final Row, the 2-1 favorite. The entry paid $7 to win.

The field was reduced to seven because of five scratches. The Taylor's Special was the first turf race held here all week, since the course has been drenched by heavy rain. The pace on a course rated "soft" was slow throughout. Final Row was hounded on the early lead by Taylor's Special defending champion Vinnie's Boy and Distinctive Mr. B through a quarter-mile in a tepid 22.79 seconds. Miner's Gamble rated in last early under jockey Frank Lovato, began rolling at the stretch call, and was up in the final strides over Bold Pilot, who had taken the lead inside the final sixteenth-mile.