Dazzled Saint succeeds in fifth try in Karl Boyes Memorial

Dazzled Saint has won a bunch of races during his career at Presque Isle Downs. But he came into Monday night’s $100,000 Karl Boyes Memorial Stakes with an 0-for-4 record in the 5 1/2-furlong stakes, finishing sixth, third, eighth, and fourth over the past four years.

At age 8, coming off a 9 1/2-month layoff, and with a jockey who had not ridden the gelding since his sixth-place finish in the 2011 Boyes, Dazzled Saint scored a front-running upset at 21-1.

Sent to the front by Willie Martinez, Dazzled Saint ($45) reeled off fractions of 21.89 and 44.52 seconds, and then held off a late charge by 16-1 longshot Choctaw Chuck to prevail by a neck. Go Blue or Go Home, who won the 2013 Boyes, finished third at 5-2, a length behind the runner-up. The winning time was 1:02.70.

“When he has a clear lead at the quarter pole, he’s hard to run down,” said owner-trainer John Bourke of Dazzled Saint, who is now 11 for 27 at Presque Isle.