Kristofferson holds off stablemate to win Birdcatcher

Trainer Tim Rycroft, who won the $51,850 Bird of Pay for 2-year-old fillies Friday with Bootleggers Wife, had the first two finishers, Kristofferson and Awesome Slate, in the $50,000 Birdcatcher for 2-year-old colts and geldings Saturday at Northlands Park.

Kristofferson ($4.50) took advantage of a poor start by his stablemate to win the 6 1/2-furlong dash by a half-length.

With leading rider Rico Walcott aboard, Kristofferson broke sharply but a bit outward from post 2 and helped sandwich Awesome Slate, who also got bounced around by N. Y. Smoke, who broke inward from post 4.

Kristofferson set moderate fractions of 23.08 seconds and 46.66, held a three-length lead over Awesome Slate at the top of the stretch, and was all out to hold off a determined Awesome Slate. After gathering himself, Awesome Slate tracked the winner coming out of the first turn, drifted out on the stretch turn, and finished well to just miss. N. Y. Smoke rallied to finish third but never was a threat to the Rycroft duo.

The final time over a track rated fast was 1:19.15.

Kristofferson and Awesome Slate are owned by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Riversedge also owns Bootleggers Wife.