India takes Cotillion; Miraculous Miss fourth

India was unable to beat Miraculous Miss twice in graded stakes run at sprint distances. Given more ground to cover and an extra turn to negotiate, the Todd Pletcher-trained India easily turned the tables in Saturday's $500,000 .

After dueling for the early lead with eventual third-place finisher Baby Bird, jockey Joe Bravo asked India ($7) to move to the lead with a half-mile remaining and she remained strong to the finish en route to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Cotillion.

Amandatude, runner-up in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks in July, held off Baby Bird by a neck for second.

Miraculous Miss, the even-money favorite, never launched her typical late rally and finished fourth of five, beaten 5 3/4 lengths. It was only the second loss in eight lifetime starts for Miraculous Miss, a four-time graded stakes winner.

The winning time for 1 1/16 miles over a wet-fast track was 1:43.26.

India was making her second start around two turns, nearly a month after scoring a five-length romp in an overnight stakes at Monmouth Park. Owned by the Lyon Stables, she has now won 4 of 10.

* The versatile Diabolical ($5) overtook 2-5 favorite Fabulous Strike in the stretch and pulled away to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $97,000 Gallant Bob Handicap for 3-year-old sprinters.

Trained and partially owned by Steve Klesaris, Diabolical was cutting back from 1 1/8 miles on turf to a six-furlong dirt race. Ridden by Mario Pino, he ran the distance in 1:08.40 for his fifth win in nine starts this season. He has won on fast and wet dirt and on turf, and Diabolical had been racing at distances between a mile and 1 1/8 miles in his last six starts.

Fabulous Strike held second in a field reduced to four by three scratches, including probable favorite Songster, a Grade 2 winner.

* Raging Rapids ($4.80), claimed for $10,000 in April, moved to the lead after a half-mile and was ridden out to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $56,350 Pistol Packer Handicap for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares.

It was the fourth win for the 5-year-old Raging Rapids since being claimed by Victory Thoroughbreds and trainer Ramon Preciado. She covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.52.

Hailie's Girl, trained by Ramon's brother, Lupe, finished second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of 20-1 shot Love Is Kind.