Lady Railrider repeats - this time on turf

ALBANY, Calif. - Lady Railrider scored a repeat victory in Saturday's $50,600 Pacific Heights Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

The 4-year-old Ride the Rails filly, who won the Cal Cup Matron in her previous start, won for the first time on turf, going wire-to-wire in the 1 1/16-mile race. Last year's Pacific Heights was contested on the main track.

Lady Railrider defeated stablemate Shes a Lucky by two lengths in 1:45.30 and paid $5.20. Shes a Lucky Wager Wager, who was last entering the stretch, finished two lengths in front of Phantom Ali, who held off Croxie by a head for third.

Lady Railrider, second to Shes a Lucky Wager in her lone turf try as a 2-year-old, broke sharply and inherited the lead.

"I was a little concerned the first quarter, but she came back to me on the backstretch, and we were able to slow down the pace," said winning jockey Frank Alvarado.

Windover attempted to move up on the second turn and got to within a head of Lady Railrider at the quarter pole, but she tired and dropped out of the running.

Odds-on favorite You Lift Me Up, who got a perfect rail trip, was in perfect striking position but never fired.

Winning trainer Steve Specht recorded his 999th win in the Pacific Heights

"She's pretty special," Specht said of Lady Railrider.

The victory, worth $30,000, improved Lady Railrider's record to seven wins in 18 starts. Owned and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams, Lady Railrider has now earned $396,700.