Lapis wins by neck at Spa

Nearly two years since she lit up the Saratoga tote board at 50-1 in a New York-bred allowance race, Lapis pulled another upset in Monday's $66,600 for statebred fillies and mares.

Lapis, under Cornelio Velasquez, took advantage of a hot pace and rallied down the center of the course to collar Slew Motion in deep stretch and win the Union Avenue by a neck. Slew Motion, who chased the pace, settled for second, two lengths ahead of the pacesetting favorite, High Peaks.

Lapis, a 5-year-old daughter of Southern Halo owned by Carolyn Wilson, covered the six furlongs in 1:11.44 and returned $25.80 as the fifth choice in the field of eight.

It was the second stakes win of the meet for winning trainer John Hertler, who on Aug. 14 won the West Point Handicap with Dave. It was only the second win for Lapis since she won at Saratoga on Aug. 24, 2003 at 50-1.