A M Milky Way by a neck in Golden Circle Stakes

ALTOONA, Iowa – A M Milky Way won a prolonged stretch battle with even-money favorite Recount to prevail by a neck in Friday night's $75,000 Golden Circle Stakes.

In the field of eight well-traveled 3-year-olds, A M Milky Way ($6.80), a Texas-bred Elusive Bluff gelding, scored his first stakes win against open company and a first stakes win here for trainer Karl Broberg. A M Milky Way had established his credentials when second, beaten just a length, in Oaklawn Park's Bachelor Stakes on April 10.

Ridden for the first time by an energetic Floyd Wethey, A M Milky Way covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.16 and fended off the resilient Illinois-bred pacesetter Recount. The top pair pulled 5 1/2 lengths ahead of Ike Walker's mild rally.

Earning $44,700 for breeder and owner David Davis, A M Milky Way pushed his lifetime earnings to $132,100 after just seven lifetime starts.

Early in the evening after a fourth-race win by Hot Redhead, the track honored trainer Kenny Smith, who recently tallied his 1,000th career win and is off to an 8-for-22 start to the meet.