Dutrow's gamble pays off fabulously

BENSALEM, Pa. - Despite the fact Love of Money had never raced around two turns or in a stakes race before, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. thought enough of him entering Monday's $750,000 that he wagered $2,000 to win and place on the 12-1 shot.

Dutrow's confidence and wallet were rewarded when Love of Money went gate to wire over the heavily speed-favoring Philadelphia Park track to win the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby by 8 1/2 lengths. Pollard's Vision, who raced in second from the outset, finished second, one length ahead of Swingforthefences. Tapit, the 3-1 favorite, finished ninth in the 12-horse field.

Robby Albarado picked up the mount on Love of Money because the colt's regular rider, John Velazquez, was committed to Pollard's Vision for his main client, Todd Pletcher.

Love of Money and Pollard's Vision both broke well, but Velazquez was content to let Love of Money have the lead. Love of Money maintained a one-length lead through fractions of 23.63 seconds, 46.62, and 1:11.26 before opening up around the turn.

Though he drifted out late, Love of Money ($27.40) won easily and covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.42 over a fast track.

"The way the track was carrying speed, I thought if I could get away good and I can get any kind of breather he's going to sprint home, and he did,'' Albarado said. "An eighth of a mile leaving the gate he put his ears up and he went to the half-mile pole like that; that's almost three-quarters of a mile just galloping, so I thought I'd have tons left.''

Dutrow, who trains Love of Money for Mace and Samantha Siegel, said the horse was delayed getting to the races because of a strained hind suspensory suffered as a 2-year-old. He didn't debut until June 12 when he won a six-furlong maiden race at Belmont. He was coming off a win in a seven-furlong entry-level allowance race on Aug. 12. Dutrow said he was heartened when he saw Society Selection win the 10-furlong Alabama after winning the seven-furlong Test earlier this summer at Saratoga.

"Sometimes horses really excel first time around two turns, and I knew my horse was just so good right now that we decided to take a chance,'' Dutrow said.

And in more ways than one, it paid off.

* Taittinger Rose ($3) came off the rail in deep stretch under Pat Day to dead-heat with the pacesetting Reforest ($3.40) in the $100,000 Pennsylvania Oaks.

* Smooth Maneuvers ($7.20) shook off an early pace challenge from Turquoise Bead and hung on to win the $75,000 Steve Van Buren Handicap by three-quarters of a length.