Drillit makes Tah Dah her first stakes triumph

Drillit, who has been knocking on the door through the summer, broke through with her first stakes win in the $75,000 Tah Dah Stakes for Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Belterra Park.

Drillit, trained by Robert Gorham for Mast Thoroughbreds, was an 8 1/4-length debut winner in June at Thistledown. Two weeks later, she faced the boys in the Hoover Stakes, finishing a creditable second to Diamond Dust. And two weeks after that, the Drill filly checked in a well-beaten third in the Miss Ohio Stakes.

On Sunday, Drillit ($9.60) controlled the Tah Dah from the outset under regular rider Terry Houghton, breaking well from post 2 in the field of nine to lead Rosetta Gray by a half-length through an opening quarter in 22.59 seconds, and shaking off her pursuers to lead by a length through the half in 46.70 seconds. She cleared off in the lane and easily held sway to win by a length, finishing the six furlongs in 1:12.69.

Totally Obsessed, sent away as the favorite off a maiden win, stumbled at the start, and recovered to stalk the pace before running greenly late. She bore in in upper stretch, straightened out with a left-handed stick from Luis Colon, then veered again when switched back to a right-handed stick late. She still was a clear second, 10 lengths ahead of Market Success.