Cool Cowboy takes Golden Circle Stakes

ALTOONA, Iowa – Cool Cowboy seized command at the outset and maintained his advantage over six rivals for an impressive 5 1/4-length tally in Friday's $75,000 Golden Circle Stakes.

Shipping in from Arlington following a successful Tampa Bay Downs campaign that included a victory in the Inaugural Stakes on Dec. 7, Cool Cowboy exhibited excellent speed Friday while covering six furlongs in a meet-best 1:08.84.

Jockey Eddie Perez made the trip down Interstate 80 to retain the mount for trainer Dale Bennett on the winning Kodiak Kowboy colt. Sent off as the narrow favorite, Cool Cowboy ($5) collected $45,000 for owner Savoy Stable.

Second choice Russellin, a highly regarded Hillary Hartman trainee making his stakes debut and turning back in distance after two route victories at Oaklawn Park, stayed on steadily to snatch second from the quick Turf Paradise shipper Lotsa Mischief.