Charles Town: Russell Road rallies to earn 13th stakes victory in It's Only Money
The severe cutback from a series of seven-furlong and 1 1/8-mile races to 4 1/2 furlongs proved no problem for the classy Russell Road, who made up a four-length deficit in deep stretch to win Saturday night’s $51,500 It’s Only Money Stakes for West Virginia-breds at Charles Town.
Rock to Bop, who set the pace as a 15-1 outsider, opened up a four-length lead with a furlong remaining, but Russell Road blew past him under Travis Dunkelberger to record his 17th victory in 26 starts. It was the 13th stakes win for the 5-year-old Russell Road and his second in a row this season.
Tup Take’ Please rallied to get second at 7-2, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Rock to Bop.
Russell Road, trained b James W. Casey for owner Mark Russell, completed the distance in 50.81 seconds and earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.