Deputy Glitters outkicks High Cotton

Deputy Glitters captured his second Derby of the year Saturday, when he got the best of favored High Cotton in a riveting stretch duel in the Grade 2, $350,000 at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio.

Deputy Glitters added the Ohio Derby to his victory in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in March. In between, he made failed runs in the Wood Memorial, Kentucky Derby, and Belmont Stakes.

Joe LaCombe of Favorite Trick fame is the breeder and owner of Deputy Glitters, who prevailed by a neck. Ridden by Rene Douglas, Deputy Glitters ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.32 over a fast track. Tom Albertrani, who won the Preakness in May with Bernardini, is also the trainer of Deputy Glitters, who returned $10.20 as the third choice in a field of six 3-year-olds.

High Cotton, the 11-10 favorite under Chris DeCarlo, had a perfect trip. Second most of the way, he took over for the longshot front-runner Tri Uimet, then ran gamely before being narrowly defeated. Flashy Bull had minor traffic trouble before settling for third along the rail, 1 1/2 lengths behind High Cotton. Completing the order were Sacred Light, Sayhellotolarry, and Tri Uimet.

In earlier Saturday action:

* Cat Singer ($2.80) was fully extended in holding off Bug Hunter in the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Stakes. Ridden by Rodney Prescott, Cat Singer won the 1 1/8-mile race for Ohio-breds by a half-length, moving his career mark to 9 wins from 23 starts and more than $300,000 in earnings.

* Beautiful Bets ($4.80) wore down front-running Starleena en route to a four-length victory over Bullcat in the $50,000 Scarlet Carnation Stakes. Based in Kentucky with trainer Glenn Wismer, Beautiful Bets was ridden by Dana Whitney in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares.

* Churchill Downs shipper Smalltown Slew ($7), ridden by Calvin Borel, stalked the pace before moving along to his fourth straight win in the $50,000 Isi Newborn Memorial Stakes. Wild Tale was second, and Bernie Blue, the odds-on favorite, was third.