Lee's Spirit rallies to take Erwin Stakes

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Even-money favorite Lee's Sprit rallied strongly from the second flight to win Saturday's $150,000 A. L. "Red" Erwin Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Snug, who helped set the early pace, held on for second, and was followed by Taylortown.

The race was moved from the turf to the main track due to rain earlier in the week from Hurricane Gustav.

Trained by Bob Schultz and ridden by leading rider Don Simington, Lee's Spirit ($4) won for the fifth time in 12 starts and for the third time in stakes company. The 3-year-old Leestown gelding covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:42.13 over a fast strip and won by 2 3/4 lengths. As a sales graduate in the state of Louisiana, he was eligible for the full purse and the $90,000 winner's share boosted his career earnings to over $231,000 for owners SAS Partners.