M J's Enchanteur draws off in Sophomore Sprint

M J's Enchanteur withstood early pressure from So So and survived a claim of foul to secure his third stakes victory of the season in Tuesday night's $75,000 Sophomore Sprint Championship at Mountaineer Racetrack.

Sent to the front by jockey Josue Arce in a field reduced to four by three scratches, M J's Enchanteur ($3) dueled with Charles Town shipper So So through a half-mile in 45.27 seconds, edged clear entering the stretch, and finished 6 1/4 lengths in front of runner-up Perfectly Played.

In winning for the sixth time in 16 starts this season for trainer Scott Lake and owners Ben Mondello and Adam Russo, M J's Enchanteur completed the six furlongs on a track rated good in 1:11.67.

Paul Nicol Jr., the rider of third-place finisher So So, filed an objection for interference down the backstretch, but the stewards disallowed the claim.

M J's Enchanteur, claimed for 40,000 last winter at Gulfstream Park, was making his first start since flashing speed and fading to fourth in the $250,000 Gallant Bob Handicap at Philadelphia Park.