Lonesome Creek upsets ATBA Fall Sales Stakes

Lonesome Creek upset 1-5 favorite Got an Itch to capture the $114,862 filly division of the ATBA Fall Sales Stakes at Turf Paradise on Saturday, while R El Jefe is apparently a new horse with blinkers as he made it two in a row with them, taking the $87,782 colts and geldings division.

Lonesome Creek, owned by Gene Fleming and trained by F.C. Frazier, sat midpack early under Enrique Garcia, swept to the lead into the lane, and stayed on smartly, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of overwhelming favorite Got an Itch in the six-furlong race for 2-year-olds who graduated from last fall's ATBA sales. Almost Friday ran third in the field of 11.

Lonesome Creek ran the distance in 1:10.16 and paid $27.40. The winner's share of $64,486 pushes her earnings to $87,441 from 2 wins in 7 starts.

In the male division, R El Jefe, owned by F. Daniel and S. Fifer Frost and trained by David Van Winkle, stalked the pace, took over late, and drew away to win comfortably by 3 3/4 lengths under Juan Rivera. Espresso Springs, the 7-5 favorite, ran second, well clear of third finisher De Sica in the field of 12. R El Jefe paid $7.40 as the second choice and ran the distance in 1:09.44. The winner's share of $38,491 pushes his career bankroll to $51,691 from 2 wins in 5 starts.