Don't Forget Gil rallies to win Wayward Lass

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Don't Forget Gil returned to the scene of her last win - last year's Florida Oaks - to make her 4-year-old debut a winning one. She rallied past a stubborn Choragus through the stretch and pulled away late to post a 2 1/2-length victory in the 26th running of the Wayward Lass Stakes for older fillies and mares at Tampa Bay Downs.

With leading rider Daniel Centeno contributing a well-judged ride, Don't Forget Gil - winner of last year's Florida Oaks here - was content to watch from the outside as Lady Alexander set a solid early pace while pressed from the inside by Choragus.

After a half-mile in 48.39 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.50, favored Lady Alexander began to tire and Choragus took a clear lead passing the quarter pole but was quickly joined on the outside by Don't Forget Gil. That pair battled into the final furlong together before Don't Forget Gil asserted herself, slowly pulling away under brisk handling by Centeno.

Choragus continued well to be clearly the best of the rest, finishing 2 1/4 lengths to the good of the late-running Miss Match, with longshot D Day finishing fourth.

Miss Triss lost her action racing to the first turn and was pulled up.

Don't Forget Gil covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.76 over a track that was fast but still a bit wet from morning rains. Trained by Mark Hennig, she returned $6.40 as the second choice of the field of eight.