Fight for Ally upsets NJC

Longshots dominated the Grade 3 $250,000 National Jockey Club Handicap at Hawthorne with Fight for Ally ($17.80) holding on to defeat Colonial Colony (8-1) and Parrott Bay (18-1) by a neck in the 1 1/8-mile race.

Fight for Ally, ridden by Eusebio Razo Jr., stalked the 2-1 favorite Keats in second through the opening mile and moved past Keats at the eighth pole. Fight for Ally was noticeably leg weary through the long stretch at Hawthorne, and was all out to defeat Colonial Colony and Parrott Bay, who were separated by a nose. Final time over a fast track was 1:53.46.

Keats faded to fourth, while second choice Colorful Tour ran seventh in the field of eight.

Fight for Ally, an Indiana-bred son of Fit to Fight, ran his unbeaten streak at Hawthorne to three races with his win in the NJC. Owned by Frank Calabrese, Fight for Ally has now won all three of his races since being transferred to the barn of Wayne Catalano earlier this year. The NJC was the first graded stakes win for Fight for Ally, who had won the Ides of March Stakes at Hawthorne and a $75,000 optional claimer in his previous 2003 races.

Fight for Ally's career record now stands at 11 wins in 28 starts. The $150,000 winner's share of the National Jockey Club boosted his career earnings to $533,949.