Decathlon win shows Acting Zippy's no fluke

Acting Zippy, emerging as a leading sprinter in the Mid-Atlantic region, captured Saturday's $74,200 Decathlon Stakes, the opening-day feature at Monmouth Park. The Oceanport, N.J., track drew a crowd of 10,292 for its first of 94 days.

It was the second straight stakes win for Acting Zippy, a 4-year-old chestnut gelding trained and co-owned by William Bennett.

In his previous start, Acting Zippy pulled off a 24-1 stunner in the Vincent Moscarelli Memorial at Delaware Park. The Decathlon price was 5-2, but the outcome, and the trip, were identical.

Acting Zippy is a stalker, and this time his target was Unwritten, the pacesetter who carried a five-race winning steak into the Decathlon. Sitting second with Eddie Castro aboard, Acting Zippy reeled in Unwritten to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths despite briefly lugging in.

"He's on top of his game right now," Bennett said.

Unwritten held second from He's So Chic, the even-money favorite and the stronger half of an entry with Brush On By.

The time was 1:08.22 for the six furlongs on the fast track.

On the Vineyard was fourth, followed by Brush On By, Custer, Vigors Storm, and Who's the Cowboy.