Miss Ritz upsets 1-5 favorite

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - In her first start in nearly five months, Miss Ritz rallied from off a hot pace to win the $75,000 Wafare Farm Stakes at Lone Star Park by 1 3/4 lengths over 1-5 favorite Gilded Wings. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Truly Sunlit.

Miss Ritz ($10) stumbled at the start and raced about three lengths behind pacesetter French Lass, who led the field through an opening four furlongs in 44.65 seconds. Gilded Wings took the lead into the stretch, but Miss Ritz overtook her soon afterward, and went on to cover the six furlong race for 3-year-old fillies in 1:10.57 over a fast track.

Gerard Melancon, who won the Wafare Farm Stakes last year with Hattiesburg, rode Miss Ritz for owner Kenneth Murphy and trainer Bob Young. Miss Ritz earned $45,000 for the win, her fourth in a nine-race career, which boosted her bankroll to $183,773.

Miss Ritz's biggest career win came last year at Lone Star in the $100,000 Silver Spur Stakes.