Belong Again romps in sales stakes

Belong Again stalked Kip Berries from the start before powering away at the three-sixteenths pole to score a dominant 10-length victory in Saturday's fillies division of the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation Sales and Graduate Stakes.

The $50,000 stakes - split into divisions for males and females - were open to horses who passed through the foundation's 2008 2-year-olds in training auction.

Making her second career start following a debut in an open maiden race at Oaklawn Park in which she finished second by a head, Belong Again covered the 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:18.48, a full second faster than the males a race earlier.

Kip Berries finished second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Cajun Song.

Belong Again, ridden by Eduardo Perez, returned $3.20 as the favorite. A $26,000 purchase at last year's sale, she is owned by Thomas Meites and Richard S. Trent and is trained by Jerry Calvin.

In the colts and geldings division, King Ajax made a move to take the lead on the turn and battled with Grey Knight until midstretch. He pulled away under jockey Lyndie Wade to a 7 1/4-length maiden win in his second career start.

Grey Knight held second by three-quarters of a length over Where's Winston, the 4-5 favorite who was closing late.

King Ajax is owned by George and Stacey Johnson and Cristel Racing Stable and is trained by Mark Cristel. He covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:19.48 and returned $7.80 as the second choice in the wagering.