Moralist outduels Talk Circuit

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Prevailing with a gutty effort, Moralist captured the $35,000 Honor the Hero Turf Express Stakes at Canterbury Park Monday.

The field for the Turf Express was reduced to seven after Excessive Heat was scratched Monday morning, leaving King A. J. as the favorite. The early pace was set by Talk Circuit, who set fractions of 22.19 and 44.83 while putting away several challengers to gain a daylight lead in upper stretch. Moralist, who had stalked the leaders while shifting out on the turn, commenced a five-deep rally under Jose Ferrer nearing the top of the stretch and set sail for the leader. Talk Circuit and Moralist skirmished through the final sixteenth with Moralist edging forward by a head, completing the five furlongs over firm going in 56.57 seconds.

Moralist, who was claimed last fall at Hawthorne for $10,000, is trained by Tammy Domenosky and owned by Miracle Logistics. The win in the Turf Express was the 4-year-old Talk Is Money gelding's first stakes victory.