Officer Alex earns third stakes win with Lyman Handicap victory

Officer Alex got the third stakes win of his career Saturday at Parx Racing, rallying from last place for a 1 1/2-length victory in the $75,200 Lyman Handicap, a seven-furlong stakes for Pennsylvania-breds.

It was the first win of 2014 for Officer Alex ($13.80), who had made four starts in optional claimers at Oaklawn Park this year, finishing no better than sixth each time.

With Frankie Pennington aboard Saturday, Officer Alex was last of six on the outside as Arlo led the field through a quarter-mile in 22.69 seconds and a half-mile in 45.07. Officer Alex advanced four wide on the turn to take a 1 1/2-length lead at the head of the lane and wasn’t seriously challenged thereafter, stopping the clock in 1:22.67.

Zipped Code was second, a length ahead of Rustler Hustler, who was followed by the favored Traffic Light, Arlo, and Uptown Boy.

Officer Alex, a 4-year-old son of Officer, won the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park as a 3-year-old, and in 2012, he captured the Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx. He’s made four starts at the suburban Philadelphia track, with three wins and a second-place finish. Officer Alex improved to 2 for 2 at the seven-furlong distance.

Trained by Lynn Whiting for Choctaw Racing Stable and Winning Horses Stable, Officer Alex has won five of 17 career starts for $227,268.