Lake Ponchatrain scores 20th career win in Prairie Rose Stakes

Lake Ponchatrain won her 20th race Thursday night at Prairie Meadows when she closed late under Walter De La Cruz to capture the $50,000 Prairie Rose Stakes.

It was the sixth different track at which 7-year-old Lake Ponchatrain has recorded a win. The Oklahoma-bred 7-year-old, by Afleet Express out of Harmony Lake, by Lucky Lionel, has done most of her best work at Charles Town, but since December has won races at Mahoning Valley, Oaklawn, and now Prairie for owner-trainer Ernest Hayes.

Puntsville hounded inside pace-setting Shanghai Tariff through quick splits of 22.01 and 45.21 as Lake Ponchatrain came under pressure past the three-furlong marker and appeared to be swimming upstream. But the speed came back in mid-stretch and there is no doubt Lake Ponchatrain, who has amassed that lofty win total in 48 starts, is a willing racehorse. De la Cruz steered her inside the tiring speed and Lake Ponchatrain hit the front just before the finish, scoring a three-quarter-length win while running six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.88.

No Mercy Percy was third behind Shanghai Tariff while Puntsville held fourth in a decent comeback run following a winter break. Natalie’s Mischief was fifth. Annathela and Pretty Greeley were scratched.