Fonz's captures Prevue

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Fonz's, who displayed plenty of promise at Hollywood Park last summer before going to the sidelines, made a triumphant return to the races on Saturday when he led a parade of longshots home in the Grade 3, $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Fonz's, a 6-1 shot, outdueled 9-1 Popular through the stretch to win by a half-length, with 13-1 shot Labamta Babe another 3 1/2 lengths back in third. Eastern invader Heavyweight Champ was fifth, and 7-5 favorite Roman Dancer sixth in the field of seven.

With Laffit Pincay Jr. aboard, Fonz's was timed in 1:22.03 for seven furlongs on the fast main track. Fonz's trainer, David LaCroix, said Fonz's would return in the Grade 1, $200,000 Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 15.

Fonz's managed to survive a contested pace duel that found five of the seven runners stretched across the track as the field hit the far turn. Fonz's was three paths wide, with Popular and Heavyweight Champ to his inside, and Roman Dancer and Royal Moro to his outside. After a quarter in 22.65 seconds, half in :45.10, and six furlongs in 1:09.47, Fonz's and Popular pulled clear of their rivals, and Fonz's got the best of Popular in the final 50 yards.

LaCroix's Meadowbrook Farm Inc. owns Fonz's along with Gene Anderson, who has 25 percent of the horse. Fonz's, a 2-year-old gelding by Out of Place out of the Spring Double mare Seton's Encounter, has now won twice in three starts. In May at Hollywood Park, he won a maiden race by four lengths, then was second, 10 lengths clear of the third horse, in the Willard Proctor Memorial Stakes.

Fonz's had been off since May because of various minor injuries, according to LaCroix. "He had shins, popped a splint, was up to a half-mile, then popped another splint," LaCroix said.

for the Hollywood Prevue Stakes chart.