Ellis Park
Nakayama Kun takes Governor's Handicap
Ellis Park Photography Nakayama Kun rallies to win the $50,000 Governor's Handicap at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Nakayama Kun, ridden by Eddie Martin Jr., rallied from last before driving to a one-length victory Saturday in the $50,000 Governor's Handicap at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Owned by Miho Izumi and trained by Akiko Gothard, Nakayama Kun returned $15.80 as the second-longest shot in a field of seven older horses. Paging, part of a favored Bernie Flint entry, also rallied from well back to finish second, three-quarters of a length before Artemus Sunrise.
The victory was the fifth in 18 lifetime starts for Nakayama Kun, a 5-year-old horse by Known Fact. "I sat on him until the 3/16-pole, and then I gathered him up," said Martin. "From there the race was over."