During rides rail to Swaps win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - He was first passed by Ten Most Wanted, then Eye of the Tiger. Never having won beyond a mile, nor having ever raced 1 1/8 miles, the situation looked dire for During in Sunday's $400,000 at Hollywood Park.

But During, clinging to a rail path that jockey Jerry Bailey had been tipped off was the best part of the track, bravely re-rallied to post an 8-1 upset against his more highly regarded rivals in the Grade 2 race for 3-year-olds.

During surged in the final yards and beat 3-5 favorite Ten Most Wanted by a head. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Eye of the Tiger, who finished in a deadheat for third with the late-running Outta Here. Bullistic and Logician, who was coupled in the wagering with Ten Most Wanted, completed the order of finish.

A soft early pace of 24.09 seconds, :48.18, and 1:11.74 for the first six furlongs undoubtedly kept During fresh for the final three furlongs. But Bailey believed hugging the rail might have made the difference.

"A jockey who jogged on the track this morning, Mike Smith, told me the rail was good," Bailey said. "He dug in very gamely. I was afraid the other horses were going to run right by him."

During ($18.40) was timed in 1:49.38 on a track rated fast. The victory was the third in eight starts for the Cherokee Run colt, whom Bob Baffert trains for Jim McIngvale. This was During's first stakes victory; he was third in Churchill Downs's Northern Dancer Stakes on June 14 in his previous start.

Ten Most Wanted gave seven pounds (122-115) to During. He also raced four paths wide on the far turn after being moved to the middle of the track while racing down the backstretch. Still, his jockey, Pat Day, thought "it was his to win or lose."

"The way he was moving, I just expected him to kick on," Day said. "He did until he got clear of these horses, then he just lost his concentration."

Eye of the Tiger was "making a little noise pulling up," according to his rider, Alex Solis.