Cross Border ($26.60) fights off tough field in Prairie Bayou Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
Multiple graded stakes winner Cross Border prevailed against a salty field Saturday night in the $100,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes at Turfway Park.
Cross Border ($26.60), sent away as the second-longest shot in the field of seven, was unhurried early under Alex Achard, and trailed after a half-mile. Up front, second choice Megacity had bobbled at the break, but had quickly rushed up from the rail to lead Mr Dumas by half a length through an opening half in 47.45 seconds on the fast Tapeta.
Megacity clung to a head lead over Mr Dumas approaching the quarter pole, but Grade 2 winner Rushie, sent away as the favorite, was looming behind those two, pressing three wide in third. Meanwhile, Cross Border had steadily advanced to fifth, and Achard swung him widest of all for the drive.
Megacity came up empty in upper stretch and, with the top four separated by just over a length, Cross Border inherited the lead, poking his head in front of Mr Dumas. He edged clear in the final furlong and was ridden out to win by 1 3/4 lengths. His final time was 1:43.89 for the 1 1/16 miles.
Grade 3 winner Mr Dumas continued on well to be a clear second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Hush of a Storm, winner of the John Battaglia Memorial last season at Turfway. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Rushie, who held fourth by a nose over multiple stakes-winning millionaire Snapper Sinclair. The fading Megacity and the longshot Mutakiff completed the order of finish.
Cross Border, a New York-bred by English Channel, is trained by Mike Maker for Three Diamonds Farm. The ridgling now sports a career record of 39-11-8-5 with earnings of $1,087,929. Cross Border owns back-to-back victory editions of the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga, as he was elevated to first via a disqualification in the 2020 edition and won this year's renewal outright. His five graded stakes placings include a second and a third, respectively, in the last two editions of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and a third in this year's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf.