Litfin's review: Dawly earns triple-digit Beyer

Dawly hits triple digits

After posting Beyer Speed Figures of 95 or better in his first four races this year, Dawly (race 3, $5.50) broke through with the first triple-digit figure of his career, receiving a 103 after winning the $80,000 optional claiming feature by better than three lengths.

Dawly sat perched off Summer Sunset and Balance of Power early, responded readily when given his cue by Angel Arroyo, and powered clear to notch his ninth victory.

In his last 11 starts for Rudy Rodriguez dating back to last summer at Saratoga, Dawly has won or placed 10 times; the lone exception was a fourth in the Grade 3 Excelsior Stakes.

2’s are wild

Horses wearing saddlecloth No. 2 won four straight races, beginning with Bounty Pink ($3.50) in race 5.

Three more No. 2 horses immediately followed, and incredibly, the pick three for the 2-2-2 combination of Finders Key (race 6, $28.60), Sam Sparkle (race 7, $23.20) and Ode to Sami (race 8, $58.00) paid – wait for it – $2,222. That was for $2, of course.

It looked as though a fifth straight No. 2 would take the finale, but Five Star Dixie stumbled badly while well in front coming to mid-stretch, and Irad Ortiz Jr. simply was fortunate to stay on the tough-luck shipper from Parx Racing, who still wound up fourth.

Double carryover in pick six

After a sequence that started off logically enough with Saltine Warrior (race 4, $4.50) and the aforementioned Bounty Pink, things got much tougher for all except those whose lucky number is two.

As a result, the pick six was not hit for the second straight racing day, and a $141,367 carryover awaits bettors Friday.