Parx: Big Feat steals Crowd Pleaser at 15-1

Big Feat, winless in his first seven career starts until he scored a 47-1 upset in his first try going two turns on turf, pulled off a second straight surprise when he scored a front-running victory in the $76,000 Crowd Pleaser Handicap for 3-year-old Pennsylvania-breds at Parx Racing on Saturday.

Sent off as the second longest shot among seven horses, Big Feat ($32.80) was allowed to set slow fractions under Josean Ramirez of 50.98 seconds for a half-mile and 1:16.08 for the first six furlongs in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. No one was going to make up any ground on him after that and he finished 1 1/2 lengths in front, crossing the wire in 1:48.65.

Fessed Up, the slight favorite at 2-1, and A Fleet Attitude wound up in a dead heat for second, a half-length in front of Dynamic Strike.

Trained by Elizabeth Merryman for Ellendale Racing, Big Feat, a son of Mutakddim, is now 2 for 8 with earnings of $112,260.

In the co-featured $75,000 Power by Far Handicap for statebred fillies and mares, pacesetter Madrilena ($5.80) held off the late charge of 3-year-old Chulula by a nose. Ridden by Kendrick Carmouche for trainer Mike Pino and owner Smart Angle, the 6-year-old Madrilena covered five furlongs on turf in 58.80 seconds.

Chulula, unbeaten in her first two career starts, was 1 1/2 lengths clear of Estrada’s Girl.

Madrilena, a daughter of Stormy Atlantic, is now 5 for 14 with earnings of $216,975.