Oaklawn Park

Palanka City takes Carousel at Oaklawn

Mary Rampellini|Mar 28, 2009

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Palanka City moved past a game Solarana leaving the eighth pole for a length and a half win in the $50,000 Carousel at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. Solarana was a clear second, finishing four lengths in front of third-place finisher Blowing Kisses.

Palanka City ($3) broke on top in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares but let Solarana lead the field through fractions of 22.59 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.16 for the half-mile as she tracked in second. Palanka City moved even with the leader approaching the eighth pole, then began to separate herself from that one. She covered the distance on a fast track in 1:09.73.

Chris Emigh rode the winner for trainer Terry Gestes.

With the win, Palanka City accounted for two-thirds of the filly and mare sprint stakes this meet at Oaklawn. In addition to the Carousel, she won last month's $50,000 Spring Fever. In her other start at the meet she was second by a head in the $50,000 American Beauty.

Palanka City has now won 8 of 17 starts and $295,295. She races for William Stiritz, who is the current leading owner at Oaklawn.

Affirmed Truth takes Rainbow Miss

Affirmed Truth had more when challenged in the lane by Time Well Spent in the $50,000 Rainbow Miss and gave her trainer, Tim Ice, the first stakes win of his career. Affirmed Truth won the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies bred in Arkansas by a length over Time Well Spent. It was another six lengths back in third to Smell the Roses.

Affirmed Truth ($3) went to the front soon after the start, and set fractions of 22.18 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.83 for the half-mile while pressed by Time Well Spent. In the stretch, Time Well Spent made a strong run at the leader, but Affirmed Truth was diligent along the inside and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:11.11.

Jon Court rode the winner for K.K. and Vilasini Jayaraman.

Ice, 34, began training in May 2008. He previously had worked as an assistant to trainer Morris Nicks.

* Attendance on a frigid 38 degree afternoon at Oaklawn was 19,749.