Laki gets win in thrilling battle with Lewisfield on stewards' call

The $75,000 Polynesian Stakes at Laurel Park on Sunday was a thriller for some, a heartbreaker for others, and exciting for all.

In short, 3-5 favorite Lewisfield turned in a gutty performance to come on again after being passed by Laki in midstretch, and crossed the finish line a nose in front. But Lewisfield was disqualified for making contact with Laki in deep stretch and placed second. Laki paid $16.60.

Lewisfield came into the Polynesian atop the standings in the MATCH Series dirt-sprint division with 12 points. He earned seven points for his second-place finish. Laki entered the race with 8 MATCH points. He earned 10 for the win and a 5-point participation bonus for having started in the first four legs of the series. He now leads Lewisfield 23-19.

Laki also moved to the front in the MATCH Series overall championship point standings and leads Page McKenney 23-22.

Lewisfield sprinted clear early in the seven-furlong Polynesian. Laki moved up to join him from the outside on the far turn.

Laki and Lewisfield entered the stretch on even terms, with Laki racing well out in the track and Lewisfield closer to the inside. Nearing the furlong pole, Arnaldo Bocachica, aboard Lewisfield, took his mount farther out in the track to get closer to Laki, who had taken a short lead.
Lewisfield slowly came back on and regained the lead in deep stretch. But while doing so, Lewisfield came outward and made contact with Laki under a left-handed whip from Bocachica in the final yards of the race.

The battle was so fierce, jockey Horacio Karamanos, aboard Laki, appeared to reach out with his left hand and push Lewisfield away nearing the wire.

The stewards lit the inquiry sign, Karamanos lodged an objection, and the order of finish was reversed.

Laki, who is trained by Damon Dilodovico, was timed in 1:23.24 over a sealed track rated good. Rockinn On Bye rallied from last to finish third, 2 1/4 lengths behind the top two.

A 5-year-old gelded son of Cuba, Laki is now 6 for 13. Lewisfield had finished in front of him in their two prior meetings, the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico and the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park, both of which were MATCH Series races.

Laki and Lewisfield could meet again in the final race of the MATCH Series dirt-sprint division, the Grade 3, $250,000 De Francis Memorial Dash at Laurel on Sept. 15.

Other sprinters under consideration for the De Francis include Imperial Hint, Always Sunshine, and X Y Jet.