La Reason gives apprentice first stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - La Reason gave apprentice Justin Shepherd his first career stakes win on Saturday when she split horses in the stretch and rallied for a three-quarter length win over Pampered in the $75,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park. It was another head back in third to pacesetter Sue's Good News.

La Reason($21.40) settled in fourth along the rail in the mile and a sixteenth race for fillies and mares, while Sue's Good News led the field through an opening six furlongs in 1:11.60. La Reason advanced on the final turn, split horses in the stretch, and went on to cover the distance in 1:43.68.

"We saved as much ground as we could around the turn and at the top of the stretch I was just looking for a hole to open," said Shepherd. "When we got clear, she really gave me a good finish."

David Vance, who has been a big supporter Shepherd, who is 17, trains La Reason. The win was the fifth in 16 starts for the filly, who races for K and K Racing Stable. La Reason earned $45,000 for the Bayakoa win to increase her bankroll to $171,445.