High Blues takes advantage

High Blues couldn't catch Self Made Man when they met in the one-mile Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park on Feb. 16, rallying for third, beaten a length. But aided by a quick pace and an extra furlong with which to race, he turned the tables in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile, $50,000 Tejano Run Stakes at Turfway.

With Self Made Man somewhat headstrong in the early stages, setting opening splits of 24.03 seconds and 47.89, the race set up for the late-running High Blues.

High Blues, with James Lopez aboard, settled in last, 11 lengths off the leader, began to advance on the final turn, and once fanned wide in the stretch, passed horses with ease. He crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths in front.

Self Made Man performed well in defeat, settling down late on the backstretch to catch a breather, but proved unable to contain the winner's surge late. He held off 33-1 longshot Solo Cat by a neck for second.

Favored Jade's Revenge pulled within a length of the lead on the turn before tiring to seventh.

High Blues, trained by Rusty Arnold, picked up his first stakes victory in the Tejano Run. He raced 1 1/8 miles over Polytrack in 1:51.71, paying $12.80.