Duff prevails for huge longshot victory in Roanoke

Following a long nip-and-tuck stretch drive, Duff, by far the longest shot Saturday in the five-horse Roanoke Stakes at Parx won a three-way photo over the 2-5 favorite Page McKenney and the pacesetting Grasshoppin.

The Roanoke was one of five $100,000 stakes for statebreds on the Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races card.

Duff, ridden by Huber Villa-Gomez, saved ground to the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile race and battled inside horses in the lane to score by a nose.

Page McKenney, who bobbled at the start, bid three wide nearing the stretch, continued willingly, but lacked the needed kick. He defeated a dead-game 6-1 Grasshoppin by a nose for second.

Duff, trained by Ron Potts Jr., paid $44.80 and was timed in 1:45.09 following splits of 24.57 seconds, 48, 1:12.17, and 1:38.49.

Duff, a 3-year-old son of Candy Ride facing older rivals, now has won 5 of 12 starts and $226,054. In his race prior to the Roanoke, he had won a fourth-level allowance at Mountaineer Park by four lengths.Traffic Light, the 3-1 second choice, delayed the start while reluctant to come to the gate. He broke a step slowly, recovered, and raced forwardly to the quarter pole, then tired to finish fourth, 9 1/2 lengths behind Grasshoppin.

In the show pool, $24,964 of the $27,803 wagered was on Page McKenney.

Discreet Senorita wins Garofalo Memorial

Discreet Senorita lived up to her 4-5 favoritism in the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old Pennsylvania-bred fillies, winning by 1 3/4 lengths.

Discreet Senorita, a daughter of Discreet Cat bred and owned by Dun Roamin Farm and Rosemore Farms, was unhurried early by jockey Frank Pennington. She began to advance on the far turn, easily took the lead from the front-running Black Mission Fig in upper stretch, drew clear, then held the fast-finishing Busy Busy Busy safe while not being seriously threatened.

Discreet Senorita, trained by Edward Lehman, paid $3.60 to win in the seven-horse field. She was timed in 1:25.39.

Capar Girl finished third, three lengths behind Busy Busy Busy. Black Mission Fig tired to finish fifth.

Discreet Senorita is a daughter of Senorita Louisa, who won 4 of 10 starts and $90,000 for her owner-breeders Dun Roamin Farm and Rosemore Farms. She was trained by Lehman.

Kitten’s Point closes well to win division of Mrs. Penny

The favored Kitten’s Point finished strongly to take the lead inside the second-choice Emotional Kitten nearing the sixteenth pole of the second division of the Mrs. Penny Stakes and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Kitten’s Point, owned and bred by George Strawbridge Jr. and trained by Graham Motion, was shortening up from longer turf marathons in the 1 1/16-mile race and looked as if she was just finding her best stride at the wire. She was well handled by Alex Cintron throughout the race while having to work her way through traffic.

Kitten’s Point, a 5-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy, paid $3.80 to win in the eight-horse field. She was timed in 1:43.34.

The runner-up Emotional Kitten, ridden by Kieran Fallon, had an eventful journey. In tight along the inside on the first turn, she had to steady briefly nearing the far turn. Emotional Kitten made a strong, wide move toward the leaders on the turn, entered the stretch with the lead, but could not contain the winner’s late charge.

Jockey Joshua Navarro, aboard Keystone Kelly lodged an objection against Emotional Kitten for interference on the far turn, after steadying, but it was not allowed.

Keystone Kelly finished third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Emotional Kitten.

R Frosty One wires field in first division of Mrs. Penny

R Frosty One went wire to wire in the first division of the Mrs. Penny to score her second consecutive stakes victory.

R Frosty One, a 3-year-old taking on older rivals, lasted by a nose over the fast-closing Al’s Gal. Devilish Love, the 6-5 favorite, moved up to have dead aim on R Frosty One entering the stretch but could not get by and was nailed for second by a head by Al’s Gal.

R Frosty One scored in the Mal Rose Stakes over the Tapeta track at Presque Isle Downs in her prior start. She paid $13.80 in the seven-horse Mrs. Penny after setting a controlled pace of 24.53, 48.99, 1:12.90 and 1:37.52. She completed the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:43.91.

R Frosty One is trained by Eduardo Rojas and was ridden by Pablo Morales.

This Ain’t No Bull runs away with Marshall Jenney Handicap

This Ain’t No Bull went wire to wire to win the Marshall Jenney Handicap, the first of five consecutive stakes for Pennylavania-breds Saturday at Parx.

This Ain’t No Bull out-sprinted Flagndini for the early lead under rider Jorge Vargas Jr. and never was menaced while winning by 2 1/4 lengths.

Claimed for $20,000 out of his previous start by trainer Michael Pino, This Ain’t No Bull was timed in 56.58 for the five furlongs over firm turf. He paid $13 to win in the six-horse field.

Chief Exchanger chased This Ain’t No Bull throughout and held second by a neck over El Seventyseven.

Last Heartbreaker, who finished fourth, steadied behind horses at the top of the stretch.