Paddy O'Lionel by a nose in B-Connected Stakes

Jockey Gerardo Mora broke Paddy O’Lionel from post 1 Saturday night in the $65,000 B-Connected Stakes, asked his mount for a little early speed, and got no response. Into the first turn and down the backstretch, Paddy O’Lionel lagged at or near the back off a nine-horse field, far behind the pace – a perfect position, it turned out.

The B-Connected fractional splits, 22.68 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 46.74 for the opening half-mile, were extremely fast by Delta one-mile-race standards, and as they exacted their toll, Paddy O’Lionel’s lack of positional speed turned into an accidental asset. He moved into contention approaching the far turn, Mora wheeled him out for a clear run midway around the turn, and Paddy O’Lionel won a tight photo over Social Misfit to win the B-Connected by a nose.

The B-Connected was restricted to Louisiana-bred older horses who never had won a stakes race, and in clearing that condition, Paddy O’Lionel won for the fourth time in 13 races. Based at Fair Grounds with trainer James “Sweet” Hodges, and a well-beaten sixth in his only previous Delta start, Paddy O’Lionel paid $11.80 to win and was timed in 1:39.98 for the mile over a fast track.

Social Misfit, who was seventh early, ran at least as well as the winner and had more than four lengths on third-place Harbor Pilot, the 9-5 favorite who took the lead in upper stretch – too soon, it turned out.

Phyllis Hodges owns Paddy O’Lionel, a 4-year-old Paddy O’Prado gelding out of Dana’s Lucky Lady, by Lady Lionel. The pedigree tilts toward grass racing, but Paddy O’Lionel has failed to win in five turf tries and now has won his last three dirt starts. On Saturday night at Delta, he was in the right place at the right time.