Chalon runs to her backing in Roamin Rachel Stakes

Chalon lived up to her 4-5 favoritism in the $100,000 Roamin Rachel Stakes at Parx Racing on Monday, slipping through inside the leader, Bronx Beauty, entering the stretch and opening up to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

The Roamin Rachel was one of four consecutive MATCH Series races on the Smarty Jones undercard at Parx on Labor Day.

Chalon benefited from a heady ride by Paco Lopez, who stayed to the inner rail around the far turn and into the stretch. The win was the second from four starts on the year for Chalon, who was dropping in class after finishing second in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss and Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses in her two previous races.

Chalon, a 5-year-old daughter of Dialed In, is owned by the Lael Stable of Roy and Gretchen Jackson and trained by Arnaud Delacour.

Now 7 for 17 in her career, Chalon was making her first start in a MATCH Series race this year and will not be eligible for any post-series bonus money. A horse needs to start in at least three legs of the five-race series to be eligible to share in the bonus pool.

Chalon paid $3.80 to win and was timed in 1:11.90. Mess’n Around finished second in the Roamin Rachel, three-quarters of a length ahead of Bronx Beauty in third.

Bronx Beauty earned five MATCH Series points for finishing third and now trails Ms Locust Point, who finished fifth in the Roamin Rachel, by six points in both the overall MATCH standings and in the filly and mare dirt-sprint division. The titles will come down to how Ms Locust Point and Bronx Beauty perform in the final leg of the series, the Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sept. 28.

PTHA President’s Cup: Dynatail refuses to lose

Dynatail scored her second MATCH Series victory of the season in the $100,000 PTHA President’s Cup. If she starts in the final leg of the MATCH filly and mare long-turf series, the Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sept. 28, she will win the division. Dynatail is 2 for 2 in the MATCH Series this year. To qualify for the bonus pool, a horse must start in at least three legs of the series.

Dynatail went right to the lead in the 1 1/16-mile President’s Cup. She was challenged from the outside in earnest by Notapradaprice on the far turn, was headed, then gamely came back on to win by a neck.

Dynatail, a 5-year-old owned by the Ballybrit Stable and trained by Mike Dini, paid $23.60 in the eight-horse lineup. She completed the course in 1:41.93. Dynatail is now 8 for 30 in her career.

Candy Store, who track the leaders early finished third, a half-length behind Notapradaprice.

Bensalem: Engage holds on

Engage took the lead from pacesetting Cowboy Mz in upper stretch, drew clear, then lasted by a half-length over late-running Bon Raison to win the six-furlong Bensalem Stakes. Engage, who was winning for the fourth time in 11 starts, was making his first appearance for trainer Steve Asmussen after formerly being conditioned by Chad Brown.

Cowboy Mz moved up to take a clear lead in the eight-horse field, cut out fractions of 22.27 and 45.45 seconds, but folded up his tent in the final furlong and finished last. Engage, never far back, bid three wide nearing the stretch, and then had just enough left late to hold on under Joe Bravo.

Engage, who is owned by Woodford Racing, paid $11.20 and completed the course in 1:11.48. The Bensalem was the second start of his 4-year-old season.

By finishing third in the $100,000 Bensalem, Laki earned 5 MATCH Series points and increased his lead in the 3-year-olds and up dirt-sprint division. Laki won the division in 2018.

Neshaminy: Abiding Star strongest in stretch

Favored Abiding Star won a stretch-long duel with 2-1 second choice Paret to take the $100,000 Neshaminy Stakes by a neck. The win gives Abiding Star the lead in the MATCH Series 3-year-olds and up turf-sprint division.

To be eligible to earn MATCH series bonus money, Abiding Star will have to start in the final leg of the series, the 5 1/2-furlong Rainbow Heir Stakes at Monmouth on Sept. 28. The Rainbow Heir is at a distance that appears too short for Abiding Star.

Carol Cedeno rode Abiding Star in the Neshaminy for trainer Ned Allard. Abiding Star paid $5.60 in the nine-horse Neshaminy and was timed in 1:29.56 for 7 1/2 furlongs over grass.

Abiding Star, 6, is now 12 for 40 in his career for his breeder, the Stonehedge LLC of Gilbert Campbell.