Ellis: Kaylan's Rose flies late

Kaylan's Rose won her second consecutive stakes, scoring a half-length victory over Strike Me Lucky in the $75,000 HBPA Handicap at Ellis Park.

Under Orlando Mojica, Kaylan's Rose rallied from the back of the pack to outfinish Strike Me Lucky and favored May Gator. She raced a mile in 1:39.05 over a "good" turf course slowed by rain throughout the week. She paid $31.60.

Strike Me Lucky closed strongly to grab the runner-up spot, 1 1/4 lengths in front of May Gator, who had taken the lead in early stretch.

The top three runners all benefited from the tiring nature of the turf course, which proved taxing on frontrunners. Tempus Fugit, who set the early pace with fractions of 25.21 and 48.83 seconds, faded to last in the field of 11. Rich Find and Modena Bay, two fillies that chased her early, faded to eighth and 10th.

Kaylan's Rose, winner of the Decoration Day Handicap at Mountaineer in her prior start May 30, earned $46,000 in winning the HBPA to boost her earnings to $190,921 for owners Steve Petit, and John and Jan Woznick. Wayne Mogge trained the winner, a 5-year-old daughter of Jambalaya Jazz.