Parx: Tujoes fires fresh to take Lyman Handicap

A three-month layoff hardly mattered to Tujoes, who took command in deep stretch and captured the $77,000 Lyman Handicap, the second of two stakes for Pennsylvania-breds on Saturday’s program at Parx Racing.

The 6-year-old Tujoes was making his first start since beating open company in a third-level optional $40,000 claimer on Jan. 7 and facing statebreds for the first time since winning the 1 1/16-mile Roanoke last September.

Confidently ridden by John Bisono, Tujoes ($4.80) closed down the center of the track to score by 2 1/4 lengths while completing seven furlongs in 1:23.88. It was the fifth win in the last seven starts for Tujoes, a son of Oratory trained by Steve Klesaris for Briardale Stable.

In a three-horse photo in which two noses separated second from fourth, Arlo got the runner-up spot with Layers third and 48-1 longshot Braulio fourth.

Villette, returning to the statebred ranks for the first time since finishing second in a stakes seven months ago, put away pacesetter Ann’s Smart Dancer inside the eighth pole and drew clear to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $79,250 Foxy J.G. Stakes for fillies and mares.

A 4-year-old ridden by Stewart Elliott for trainer John Servis, Villette ($14.40) challenged 9-5 favorite Ann’s Smart Dancer on the turn, stuck her head in front with a furlong remaining, and finished strongly to win for the third time in her last four starts. A daughter of Petionville owned by Virginiana, Villette completed the seven furlongs in 1:24.85.

Lisa Stannard rallied to nose out Ann’s Smart Dancer for second.