Bagg O’Day wins stakes debut in Don Bernhardt

Taking full advantage of a speed duel between the two favorites, Bagg O’Day won his stakes debut in track-record fashion Saturday in the $50,000 Don Bernhardt Stakes at Ellis Park in western Kentucky.

With Joe Rocco Jr. sitting a perfect stalking trip, Bagg O’Day edged away from Rise Up in the final furlong to win the 6 1/2-furlong race in 1:13.74 over a track that has been playing exceedingly fast. The winner paid $9.60 as the third choice among six older horses, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Rise Up, the 7-5 choice. Evan’s Calling rallied to be third as the longest shot in the field at 20-1.

Good Lord, the winner of the Bernhardt the last three years, dueled from the outset with Rise Up to his outside before fading badly to finish last as the 9-5 second favorite. The early fractions were 21.67 and 43.62 seconds.

Bagg O’Day, a 4-year-old gelding by Five Star Day, is based at Churchill Downs with trainer Steve Hobby for owners Windy Spa Racing Stable and Bobby Robertson. He now has won four of 15 starts after capturing a second-level allowance at Churchill in his previous outing.

The $2 exacta (3-7) paid $30.20, the $1 trifecta (3-7-2) returned $125.30, and the 10-cent superfecta (3-7-2-5) was worth $33.47.

The Bernhardt was the second of four stakes at the 31-day Ellis meet. The annual highlight, the Grade 3 Groupie Doll Stakes (formerly the Gardenia), is set for Aug. 8.