Buddy Got Even passes 'em all

Buddy Got Even lagged back early before charging past the entire field to post a 9-1 upset Saturday in the $50,000 Forego Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

While Straight Line, the 6-5 favorite, bobbled badly and nearly fell to lose all chance in the far turn, Buddy Got Even was just biding his time under apprentice Alonso Quinonez. Down the stretch, as front-running Yucatan began to tire, Buddy Got Even and Will He Shine both drove past, with Buddy Got Even striding clear in the final sixteenth.

Buddy Got Even paid $21 to win after finishing three lengths ahead of Will He Shine, the 7-5 second choice. Outrageouslyfunny rallied to be third, another 1 3/4 lengths back, while Straight Line, a winner of 4 of his 5 previous starts, labored home last of eight older horses.

Owned by Stan Fulton and trained by Becky Maker, Buddy Got Even now has won 4 of 5 races on Polytrack while winless in three starts over other surfaces. A 5-year-old horse by Stephen Got Even, he finished in 1:16.87 for his first stakes victory.

- Marty McGee