Devilwentogeorgia pays $95 after springing Lyphard surprise
Devilwentogeorgia hadn't won a race since September 2014 and was dispatched at 46-1 in the Lyphard Stakes at Penn National on Saturday night. But the 5-year-old mare received a clean trip in the 12-horse field of Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares from jockey Dana Whitney and outgamed Todd Pletcher-trained Rock Me Again in the stretch despite repeated contact to win the 1 1/16-mile turf race by a neck.
Devilwentogeorgia settled into the second flight between horses as Rock Me Again and R Frosty One raced on the lead through fractions of 23.54 and 47.93 seconds. On the far turn, Devilwentogeorgia separated herself from her closest rivals and moved up to challenge three wide. With R Frosty One dropping from contention, the race was left to Rock Me Again and Devilwentogeorgia, who put her head in front in the final sixteenth and kept it there.
Devilwentogeorgia paid $95, $31.40, and $15.30. The $2 exacta returned $627.20. Devilwentogeorgia completed the course in 1:41.43. She is trained by Eduardo Rojas.
Royal Renege finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Rock Me Again but following a stewards' inquiry was disqualified and placed last. Royal Renege, with Jevian Toledo aboard, raced along the inside early. When she angled outward to lodge her bid entering the stretch, Pink Elephant, to her outside, appeared to clip heels, losing jockey Wilfredo Corujo.
Devilish Love, who was fanned wide into the stretch, was elevated from fourth to third. Valued Strike, the 5-2 favorite who raced far back early and finished well out in the course after breaking from post 12, was moved up from fifth place to fourth.
Corujo, who appeared to be struck in the lower half of his body by a trailing horse, was taken to the Hershey Medical Center after the incident. According to Eric Johnston, the director of racing at Penn National, Corujo had a large bruise on his lower back but was able to move all his extremities.
Devilwentogeorgia is now 3 for 18. The $60,000 winner's share of the $100,000 purse raised her earnings to $128,617.