Grasshoppin, 7, earns first stakes win in Lyman

The two favorites in the $100,000 Charles Lyman Stakes at Parx Racing on Saturday – The Man and Cowboy Mz – didn’t get away from the gate cleanly, but 7-year-old Grasshoppin did and went to the front. The result was his first stakes win after a number of near misses over the years.

The Lyman was the ninth victory of Grasshoppin's career. He was making his third start for trainer Claudio Gonzalez, after being transferred to him by owner Michael Jester, who bred the son of Cat Thief.

Cowboy Mz bobbled at the start and didn't show his typical early foot. He had to steady a sixteenth from the gate in the seven-furlong race for Pennsylvania-breds, then bulled his way up from between horses to take a brief lead outside Grasshoppin, who came back to regain command.

Grasshoppin put away Cowboy Mz nearing the stretch and wasn't seriously threatened thereafter, winning by 3 1/4 lengths. Cowboy Mz finished sixth at 5-2.

The Man, who had won seven consecutive races dating back to March 2015, was steadied after the start and ended up much farther in the pack than usual. He lodged an inside move into the stretch but could not sustain his bid and finished fifth at 8-5.

Grasshoppin, who was ridden by Edwin Rivera, paid $9.40 in the seven-horse field. He was timed in 1:24.25, an earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

Driven to Compete rallied willingly to be second-best. It was three lengths farther back to Red Razzo in third, and another length to Flashy Kyem in fourth.

The Lyman was the 16th stakes start for Grasshoppin. His better stakes finishes include runner-up efforts in the Jazil at Aqueduct and the Swatara at Penn National in 2016. He was fourth, beaten two lengths in the 2015 Lyman.