A New Twist wins Madison

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A New Twist splashed to a handy victory Wednesday in the $132,769 Madison Stakes at Keeneland, overtaking Flaxen Flyer in midstretch en route to the second stakes triumph of her career.

Trained by John Kimmel and ridden by Pat Day, A New Twist returned $8.80 as the longest shot in a field of just four fillies and mares. Three other scheduled starters scratched from the seven-furlong Madison, led by the morning-line favorite, You, who trainer Bobby Frankel said would run instead in the Doubledogdare at Keeneland next week.

In cold, wet conditions, Flaxen Flyer grabbed the early lead in the Madison, tracked closest by A New Twist. Turning for home, A New Twist drew even and she gradually edged clear, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. She finished in 1:24.32 over a sloppy track. Forest Secrets, the 2-1 second choice, finished third, while Spring Meadow, the 7-5 favorite, was last.

Trainer John T. Ward Jr. said he and owner John Oxley would decide "in the next day or two" whether to retire Forest Secrets, the lone Grade 1 winner who ran in the Madison.