Lopez comes home a winner on Two Mile Hill

Silmaril, under Abel Castellano Jr., captures the $100,000 Geisha Handicap in the slop at Pimlico.

Jockey James Lopez made a successful return to the Kentucky circuit by giving Two Mile Hill a textbook ride Saturday when the 4-year-old filly posted a clear-cut victory in the 25th running of the $49,500 My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

After breaking from post 2, Two Mile Hill rated kindly while saving ground throughout the 1 1/16 miles of the My Charmer. Lopez waited until an opening presented itself at the top of the stretch, and Two Mile Hill quickly took command before drawing clear to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths over Red Cell, who set the early pace.

Two Mile Hill, by A.P. Indy out of the standout mare Flat Fleet Feet, returned $8 as second choice after finishing in 1:44.40 over a sloppy track. She is owned by Eugene and Laura Melnyk and trained by Tony Reinstedler. The My Charmer win was her first in a stakes and her fourth from 11 overall starts. In her previous outing, Two Mile Hill won a second-level allowance race at Churchill Downs by nearly 11 lengths.

Lopez began his career as a top apprentice in Kentucky in 1995-96 before leaving for other tracks in the Midwest. He recently announced that he will ride regularly at Turfway again.

Dick's Chick finished a neck behind Red Cell in third, while Marwood, the 5-2 favorite, loomed as a factor turning for home before fading to fourth.

The $2 exacta paid $68.60, and the $2 trifecta paid $1,395.80.