Charming Socialite pays $47 in Alysheba

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Charming Socialite outkicked 3-5 favorite Bwana Charlie by three-quarters of a length to pull a 22-1 upset in the $100,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park on Saturday. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Danieltown.

Charming Socialite ($47.60) trailed the field early in the Alysheba, while Danieltown jetted clear of the field at the start and set fractions of 21.60 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.17 seconds for the half-mile mark. Charming Socialite swung out for the stretch drive and closed fast, covering six furlongs in 1:09.73.

"This horse has one kick and we got up," said Larry Taylor, who rode Charming Socialite for trainer Bill Pettit. "I think this horse is really starting to relax down the backside and that's really improving his racing. He doesn't move until I ask him to, and that will really step you up in class."

Charming Socialite was not eligible for the Breeders' Cup funds attached to the Alysheba, and as a result earned $30,000 for the win. The Alysheba was his second straight stakes score following a half-length victory in the $40,000 Tejas for Texas-breds at Retama Park on Sept. 18. Charming Socialite has now won 5 of 16 starts and $114,210. He races for Pettit and Paul Sutton.

Donnie Meche, who rode Bwana Charlie, made no excuses after the race. "My horse was running down the lane," he said.

Bwana Charlie was fourth last out in the Grade 1 King's Bishop at Saratoga, and before that won the track's Grade 2 Amsterdam.