Dowagiac Chief overpowers rivals in Black Gold Stakes

Dowagiac Chief bossed five overmatched foes and won the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes by five lengths on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Dowagiac Chief, the overwhelming favorite, went right to the lead under James Graham, going the opening half-mile of this two-turn turf contest for 3-year-olds in a tepid 50.55 seconds. Jose Vega on Russian Tank made a very early move, attacking the leader early on the far turn and briefly sticking his nose in front, but Dowagiac Chief repelled the challenge in upper stretch and coasted home an easy winner.

Dowagiac Chief paid $3.20 and stopped the timer in 1:46.65 for about 1 1/16 miles on a firm course. The temporary turf rail was placed eight feet out. Tommy Bee was second, 6 1/2 lengths in front of Iberville.

Tom Amoss trains Dowagiac Chief for Michael McLoughlin. Dowagiac Chief is by Cairo Prince out of Jawhol, by Eskendereya, and won for the third time in eight starts.

Louisiana-bred turf stakes

Mangelsen and Net a Bear scored popular victories in $60,000 Louisiana-bred turf stakes on the Saturday card.

Mangelsen ($3) ended up the heavy chalk in the Eddie Johnston Memorial only because odds-on favorite Who Took the Money reared in the gate, tried to flip, unseated his rider, pushed open the stall door, briefly ran loose on the turf course, and was scratched.

Mangelsen, under Jareth Loveberry, got an easy lead but drifted very wide through the homestretch and was all out to hold clear inside-rallying Trey’s Midnight Moon and win by a neck. He was timed in 1:40.61 for the mile on firm going. Ron Faucheux trains the winner for Allen Cassedy. Mangelsen, a 6-year-old gelding, is by Big Band Sound out of Terrific Tee, by Lil E Tee.

Net A Bear ($3.20) after scratches had only three horses to beat in the Red Camelia, where she got up by three-quarters of a length over Fort Polk. Now an 11-time winner from 31 starts, 6-year-old Net a Bear ran about one mile in 1:40.65, with Colby Hernandez riding for trainer Allen Landry and owners Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro. Net a Bear is by Awesome Bet out of Edacious Reality, by Eddington.