Jac's Fact goes from last to first in Michael Rowland Memorial

Even after Jac’s Fact gave his rivals a considerable head start, he was still able to win by daylight.

Dropping back to last, well behind the rest of the field after an extremely slow start, and racing at a sprint distance far shorter than he prefers, the 4-year-old Jac’s Fact surged in the stretch to win the $75,000 Michael Rowland Memorial Handicap for Ohio-accredited horses Saturday at ThistleDown.

Jac’s Fact trailed by 7 1/2 lengths after the opening quarter-mile and was ahead of just one horse with a quarter-mile remaining in the six-furlong sprint. Still sixth at the eighth pole, Jac’s Fact spurted clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

It was the first win in six starts at the Cleveland track for Jac’s Fact and his first sprint victory since last June at Belterra Park. Ridden by Megan Fadlovich for trainer Ivan Vazquez, Jac’s Fact covered six furlongs in 1:13.08 for his eighth win in 23 lifetime starts.

The 7-year-old mare Startin Something was second by a length. Culpepper Creek outfinished Plain Ol’ Willard by a head for third.