Brown Eyed Beauty best in Spring Fever

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Brown Eyed Beauty picked up the first stakes win of her career Sunday when she ran down Southern Tour by two lengths to win the $50,000 at Oaklawn Park. It was another length and a quarter back in third to Run For A Little Bit.

Emily Ring, the 3-5 favorite who was bidding for her fourth straight stakes win, finished seventh after pushing 121-1 longshot Kyle's Cruiser through an opening quarter in 21.92 seconds before having to steady. Brown Eyed Beauty($12) stalked that pace, then rallied through the stretch to cover the distance over a fast track in 1:03.94.

"The race just set up perfectly," said Jon Court, who rode the winner. "I had a speed duel ahead of me and I just let them go on. At the three-sixteenth pole I had a lot of horse-I mean I had a lot of horse-and she just moved by them without any problem."

Brown Eyed Beauty earned $30,000 for the win, which was her fourth from 11 starts. Her earnings now stand at $131,515. Hal Wiggins trains Brown Eyed Beauty for Janelle Grum.