Highland Games upsets 6-5 Nationhood

Highland Games had no trouble handling the muddy track at Turf Paradise as he stalked the pace in Saturday's $45,000 Hank Mills Sr. Handicap and rallied gamely for the victory.

Owned by Sandra Hall Trust and trained by Lyman Rollins, Highland Games was third early in the mile race named for the track's first starter who served in that role for 25 years. Highland Game then swung wide into the lane under Glenn Corbett and finished resolutely to wear down favored Nationhood and win by three-quarters of a length.

He ran the mile in 1:37.67 on the sealed muddy track and paid $8.

The winner's share of $27,000 pushes his career earnings to $79,264; he has 5 wins from 16 starts.

Nationhood, the 6-5 favorite, pressed the pace, took over into the lane, opened, and couldn't fend off the winner. He finished two lengths ahead of Skipaslew, who rallied for third in a field that was cut from nine to six by scratches.