B.A. Way drops in to win Rodney 'Cap

A drop in class worked perfectly for B.A. Way, who won the $200,000 on Saturday at even-money by a widening 2 1/4 lengths.

Dropping from Grade 1's and 2's in New York in his previous three starts, B.A. Way and rider Abel Castellano, Jr had a few anxious moments, boxed inside and fourth in the field of five turning for home in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

But B.A. Way found a seam in upper stretch, cut to the middle of the course, and quickly accelerated to win going away.

Gran Cesare, longest shot on the board at 11-1, set the pace and held for second, by 2 1/4 lengths over second-choice Foufa's Warrior.

B.A. Way, timed in 1:53.43 over a yielding course, paid $4 to win and teamed with Gran Cesare for a $33.20 exacta.

It was B.A. Way's fifth win in 16 starts, and the winner's share of $120,000 nearly doubled the 4-year-old gelding's earnings to $290,756, for trainer Rick Violette and owner Diane Perkins.

The Bobby Frankel-trained King's Drama, third in the Grade 1 Man o' War at Belmont last out, was one of five scratches.