Flash recap: 'Victory' rides off with Test

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Favored Victory Ride capitalized on a brutal pace set by Xtra Heat to capture the $250,000 Test Stakes, the second of two Grade 1 stakes on Saturday's card at Saratoga Race Course.

Xtra Heat, a winner of 14 of 16 starts before the Test, engaged in a bitter speed duel with Harmony Lodge that saw the two fillies battle through early splits of 21.51 seconds and 44. Xtra Heat put Harmony Lodge away late on the turn, only to face a three-wide challenge from Victory Ride.

Victory Ride ($4.80) collared Xtra Heat at the eighth pole and drew off to score by 3 1/4 lengths in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Xtra Heat was a game second by three lengths over Nasty Storm, who appeared to lose all chance when she was off slowly and trailed early.

The Test marked the fourth career start for Victory Ride, who was second by a neck last month in the Acorn, her stakes debut.

Trained by Rusty Arnold and owned by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise I. Humphrey, Victory Ride was ridden by Edgar Prado.

The final time was 1:21.72 after six furlongs in 1:08.82

Red Bullet wins comeback

Red Bullet made a succesful return to the races Saturday as the 2000 Preakness winner captured the ninth race of the day, a $55,000 allowance race, by 1 1/2 lengths.

Sent off a 1-2 favorite, the Stronach Stable 4-year-old covered the seven furlongs in 1:21.99 and paid $3.

He was ridden by Jerry Bailey, who notched his fourth winner of the day.

Valiant Halory was second and Flaming West.