Bastille surprises heavy favorites in Schapiro

Bastille, lightly regarded after winning a minor stakes at Colonial Downs in early August, ran down two heavily bet rivals with far more impressive credentials to upset Saturday's $200,000 John Schapiro Memorial Breeders' Cup Handicap at Laurel Park.

Joe Rocco Jr. asked the 4-year-old Bastille for his best run in deep stretch and he overtook 4-5 favorite Fishy Advice by a half-length to earn his third consecutive victory.

Dreadnaught, the 7-5 second choice in a field reduced to six older horses by four scratches, finished third.

Bastille ($20.40), trained by James Murphy, was making his first start since winning the $60,000 Polynesian at Colonial on Aug. 6. He covered 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.28.

Fishy Advice, coming off a daylight win in the $200,000 Caesar Rodney at Delaware, inherited the role of favorite after the scratch of Ashkal Way, winner of the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga in his most recent start.

Third-place finisher Dreadnaught finished a neck behind Ashkal Way in the Baruch and won the Laurel Turf Cup last fall in his only previous start over the local course.

o Bingobear ($11.60), abruptly taken back early in the race to avoid getting caught in a multiple-horse battle for the lead, ran down odds-on favorite Nicole's Dream in deep stretch to win the $60,000 Battle of the Sexes Invitational Handicap.

Ridden for the first time by Rosie Napravnik, the 5-year-old Bingobear prevailed by a length over 12-1 shot Midwatch. The Scott Lake-trained Southern Missile took third.

Nicole's Dream, the 6-year-old mare who was bet down to 2-5, won the pace battle against three other challengers and took a clear lead into the stretch, but tired in the final furlong to finish fourth.

Bingobear's time for five furlongs on turf was 55.39 seconds.