Bailey leads in Jockey Championship

GRAND PRAIRIE, Tex. - Jerry Bailey, a Dallas native seeking his first title in the NTRA All-Star Jockey Championship, held a slight lead over fellow Hall of Famer Laffit Pincay Jr. after two of four races Friday night in the fifth annual All-Star event at Lone Star Park.

In the first race of the series (race three on the 10-race card), Pincay, who won the All-Star Championship two years ago, got a great stalking trip when riding Warhead ($17.80) to victory for trainer Cole Norman.

In the second race (carded as race four), Bailey coaxed Slew City Knight ($10) to a narrow victory for trainer Marilyn Asmussen. Because one of Bailey's mounts was scratched later in the series, he had accumulated 13 points to Pincay's 12. Edgar Prado, the 2000 winner, was third with 10 points, followed by Corey Lanerie (6) and Pat Day (4).

Points are awarded, respectively, on a 12-6-4-3-1 basis for first, second, third, fourth, and scratches.

The All-Star outcome hinged on the sixth and seventh races on the card. Post time for the seventh is 9:27 p.m. Central. Delayed television coverage of the event was scheduled for 11 p.m. Central on espn2.

In the win pool of the All-Star Wager, three men were sent off as 5-1 co-favorites among the 12 jockeys: Bailey, Day and David Flores. All jockeys are assigned horses at random, with each assigned one apiece in categories known as A, B, C, and D.

Like Bailey, Earlie Fires also started the night with one point because one of his mounts scratched.