Churchill: Golden Marlin scores

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Eight weeks of frustration gave way to elation Saturday when Golden Marlin turned back a pair of challengers to capture the $109,000 at Churchill Downs.

Under Shane Sellers, Golden Marlin outran Wildcat Queen then Double Scoop in winning the Grade 3 Dogwood by one length. She returned $9.60 to win after completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.96 over a sloppy track.

Double Scoop, the slight 2-1 favorite, finished second, while late-running Throne, a 32-1 shot, finished third in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Golden Marlin, trained by Greg Foley, finished first in the March 22 Bourbonette Stakes at Turfway Park but was disqualified for a minor bumping incident. Co-owner Doug Glass was eager to erase that disappointing experience.

"This really helps make up for that day at Turfway," Glass said. "That was tough to swallow, the way our number was taken down."

The Dogwood was the third win in eight starts for Golden Marlin, a Marlin filly bred in Kentucky by Tim Thornton.

Golden Marlin grabbed the lead soon after breaking sharply from her far outside post. After putting away Wildcat Queen in the far turn, she then had to deal with a sustained outside bid from Double Scoop but was able to edge away in the final furlong.